If Kosovo would get a seat in the UN, even status of an observer, their need to talk to us about anything would immediately cease, leader of Leftist Serbia and former Belgrade chief negotiator in the Brussels talks, Borko Stefanovic told FoNet news agency.
From that moment onwards, Kosovo could do whatever it wants, since it would become de facto and de jure independent state, Stefanovic added. He also assessed it would be a great humiliation for Serbia, as it would need to ask Russia and China not to block Kosovo membership in the UN.
However, Stefanovic considers that dialogue with Kosovo Albanians must continue, as there are many important issues to be discussed, such as security of Serbs, property, missing persons, position of Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries.
He went on saying it was a mistake to rush with status talks at the highest level, as the current authorities did it, hastily, unprofessionally and in a non-transparent manner. Despite opposing stances between Belgrade and Pristina, Stefanovic believes a compromise is possible but difficult to reach and requires long-term negotiations.
He added, the authorities are getting ready to sign a comprehensive and binding agreement that would enable Kosovo to get a seat in the UN, and in return they would get slightly reinforced powers of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. Stefanovic also said the current government would accept “correction” of borders or exchange of territories, leaving a high number of Serbs south of the Ibar River “to the mercy of Pristina.”
Speaking about a possible referendum on the Kosovo issue, Stefanovic said that Serbia firstly needs to strengthen democracy, so the citizens would be aware what they are voting about, since there is a constant state of emergency in Serbia and “almost semi-war tensions are being kept on a daily basis, with the help of those in power.”
According to him, the organization of a referendum under such circumstances would be nothing more but an alibi for the current authorities, FoNet news agency reported.
