Tadic: Four-point plan for normalization of relations (Slobodno srpski, KIM Radio)
Former President of Serbia, Boris Tadic speaking in a talk-show Slobodno srpski recalled that his four- point plan for normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is the best solution, KIM Radio reported.
This plan envisages a special entity for the north of Kosovo, with its legal framework, executive and judicial powers, Community of Serb municipalities south of the Ibar River, the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church over churches and monasteries something like Atos or Lateran Treaty for the Serbian state, similar to how Italy and Vatican arranged their relations as well as resolving the issue of state and private properties of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo, Tadic explained. However, according to him, “the current authorities destroyed all. By promising they would annul all technical agreements deriving from the Brussels agreement, they accepted even things that I, or Zoran Djindjic would never accept. We were pledging for continuation of a policy that started in 1968 with an idea of division,” Tadic further said. “Once we realized, the division was not possible, we have asked for the two entities, entity for the north, and entity for the Serbs south of the Ibar River. However, Vucic, Dacic and Nikolic, and history must take note of that, accepted jurisdiction of Pristina over the entire territory of Kosovo, which at this moment, abolished the idea of creating the two entities,” Tadic said. Tadic also stressed he would never sign the Brussels agreement, adding that Angela Merkel requested from him some sort of the Brussels agreement aiming to abolish Serbian institutions in the north of Kosovo, but he has rejected it. Tadic added he believes this was one of the reasons why he has lost support from countries that recognized Kosovo, since they expected him to be flexible and cooperative, respectively to “collaborate” on this issue. Speaking about international organizations in Kosovo, Tadic said that none of them did the job they were established for. He reminded that UNMIK did not protect the Serbs, despite having full authority during the period of crisis in 2004, same as EULEX did not do it later either. Tadic opined that establishment of EULEX Mission was reality and where was no alternative to it. Refusal would lead to ceasing European integrations with all implications of a such political decision. He went on saying Serbia had several strategies related to Kosovo and Metohija, all were different and had no continuity. Milosevic had a rigid stance towards Kosovo and Metohija, in terms of preserving the sovereignty and annulling elements of autonomy, despite the high number of Albanians living in Kosovo who did not wish Serbian sovereignty over it. On the other side, Vojislav Kostunica wanted a frozen conflict, while Zoran Djindjic wanted a solution, an active solution and therefore he proposed not only return of one thousand of the army and police personnel on the borders, but also an active policy on Kosovo, which has caused a great mistrust on the side of the international community. Tadic said he wanted to continue Djindjic’s policy and it was conception on preserving the two principles. One is historic–Serbian and the second one were ethnic–Albanian. Tadic also assessed when it comes to resolving the Kosovo issue, current President Aleksandar Vucic, with his internal dialogue on Kosovo and announcements of his stance on Kosovo at the time to come, is just buying some time. Asked if he expects referendum on Kosovo in Serbia, Tadic responded it is likely to happen, and that the current government would use referendum as a shield, since they lack courage to make decision on their own. Talking about Association/Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, Tadic said it is an unclear formation created as a solution, that Serbia gets something, when it gives away everything. The former head of Serbian state also thinks that Kosovo does not belong entirely to Albanians, same as he never considered it belongs to Serbs entirely, adding that a prerequisite to any solution of the Kosovo issue is reconciliation.