Dacic: Decision to be in interest of entire Serbia
A decision on whether we will sign the agreement with Pristina will be delivered taking into account the interest of our entire people and the interest of entire Serbia, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Sunday following the consultations with heads of parliamentary groups and party leaders.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Sunday, April 07, 2013
"We will not betray the national interests or Kosovo," Dacic told a news conference at the Serbian government building.
The prime minister underscored that the Serbian government is firmly committed to the dialogue, a sustainable solution for Kosovo-Metohija and does not put its EU integration into question.
Dacic stressed that the government did not hold the consultations with political parties so as to share the responsibility for finding a solution for Kosovo.
He voiced confidence that there would be no divisions within the Serbian government over the issue of Kosovo.
According to Dacic, a sustainable, implementable solution should be found that would be in the interest of both sides, and regardless of whether Serbia would be granted a starting date for EU entry talks, which is linked to a report of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, it would be of no use to throw away the achieved results, so the negotiations must be continued.
Belgrade's wish is that the dialogue with Pristina not be halted, and that a sustainable and implementable solution is needed that would be in the interest of both sides, Dacic said, noting that April 9, when Belgrade should inform Ashton about its decision, is no "D-day".
"A decision on Serbia's starting date will be made in late June. Even if we do not get that date, we must continue the negotiations," Dacic said.
The EU set April 9 as the deadline by which Belgrade and Pristina should deliver a decision concerning the proposal put forward during the eighth round of the dialogue that was held in Brussels last Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Dacic, together with Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic, held consultations with all heads of parties and parliamentary groups in the Serbian parliament and informed them about the current situation in relation to the dialogue with Pristina.
The prime minister underscored that the Serbian government is firmly committed to the dialogue, a sustainable solution for Kosovo-Metohija and does not put its EU integration into question.
Dacic stressed that the government did not hold the consultations with political parties so as to share the responsibility for finding a solution for Kosovo.
He voiced confidence that there would be no divisions within the Serbian government over the issue of Kosovo.
According to Dacic, a sustainable, implementable solution should be found that would be in the interest of both sides, and regardless of whether Serbia would be granted a starting date for EU entry talks, which is linked to a report of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, it would be of no use to throw away the achieved results, so the negotiations must be continued.
Belgrade's wish is that the dialogue with Pristina not be halted, and that a sustainable and implementable solution is needed that would be in the interest of both sides, Dacic said, noting that April 9, when Belgrade should inform Ashton about its decision, is no "D-day".
"A decision on Serbia's starting date will be made in late June. Even if we do not get that date, we must continue the negotiations," Dacic said.
The EU set April 9 as the deadline by which Belgrade and Pristina should deliver a decision concerning the proposal put forward during the eighth round of the dialogue that was held in Brussels last Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Dacic, together with Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic, held consultations with all heads of parties and parliamentary groups in the Serbian parliament and informed them about the current situation in relation to the dialogue with Pristina.
