Nikolic: Limit that Serbia must not cross
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said late on Tuesday that there is a limit Serbia should not cross, which is Pristina's institutions spreading to the entire territory of Kosovo
(kosovocompromisestuff) Wednesday, April 17, 2013
He added that Kosovo will never be independent unless Serbia recognizes it, which is an asset to use in the talks and "make Pristina accept that which is reasonable and normal."
Nikolic said for Belgrade-based Happy TV that Serbia accepted the EU facilitation of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina because it wanted to meet EU requirements and thereby help itself start the accession talks to become its full member one day. Had anyone thought about it as talks on Kosovo's independence at that time, they would give up on the idea and everything would remain in the framework of the UN Security Council, "where it should be," said Nikolic.
He added, however, that now, the situation is very difficult because there are different obstacles in the UN Security Council itself.
Nikolic said he believes that Brussels is exerting "quiet" pressure on members of Belgrade's negotiating team and assistants, and also on the prime minister and the first deputy prime minister to relent.
"But it is clear that there is a limit that Serbia must not cross - the limit is spreading of Pristina's institutions on the entire KiM territory, in particular to the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, as that would mean that the Serbs are disappearing from the area, " said the Serbian president.
Nikolic said for Belgrade-based Happy TV that Serbia accepted the EU facilitation of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina because it wanted to meet EU requirements and thereby help itself start the accession talks to become its full member one day. Had anyone thought about it as talks on Kosovo's independence at that time, they would give up on the idea and everything would remain in the framework of the UN Security Council, "where it should be," said Nikolic.
He added, however, that now, the situation is very difficult because there are different obstacles in the UN Security Council itself.
Nikolic said he believes that Brussels is exerting "quiet" pressure on members of Belgrade's negotiating team and assistants, and also on the prime minister and the first deputy prime minister to relent.
"But it is clear that there is a limit that Serbia must not cross - the limit is spreading of Pristina's institutions on the entire KiM territory, in particular to the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, as that would mean that the Serbs are disappearing from the area, " said the Serbian president.
