British Ambassador to Kosovo Ian Cliff said that establishment of association/community of Serb municipalities will be a difficult process. He announced that the issue will be discussed in the upcoming rounds of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. Cliff made the comments in Prizren during a meeting with the head of Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Teodosije. Apart from the establishment of association/community of Serb municipalities, another issue that will not be easy, according to Cliff, involves the functioning of the courts in the north.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff said in an interview for Radio Kosova, that it is true that European Union (EU) is being ‘soft’ with Serbia - when it comes to the issues related to Kosovo.  Cliff said that this is happening because of the five member states that have not recognized Kosovo and they agree with Serbia’s position on the matter.  According to Cliff, Serbia now is being asked to normalize relations with Kosovo and implement the Brussels agreements, although there is much to be done.

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff in an interview for Kosova Sot said that Kosovo government should reduce the number of ministries in the near future, and that this should be a mid-term goal of the government. “However, as we are in a such situation when we have a large number of people who receive salaries, then, they must work hard and be given concrete tasks," said Cliff.
Cliff also said that the economy should be the priority of new government, since, according to him, this is why many people are fleeing every day from Kosovo.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said today that the biggest challenge for the new government in Pristina will be the establishment of the Special Court that will address allegations of war crimes committed in Kosovo. During a conference organized by the Pristina-based non-governmental organization FOL [Speak Up], Cliff said that as representative of the United Kingdom he would assist local authorities in the establishment of the court. Cliff said that he was pleased that Kosovo managed to form the new institutions without international intervention.

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said that he does not know why Kosovo MPs are not in an Assembly session today to elect the speaker and its deputies. Speaking at a roundtable organised by BIRN on the implementation of Kosovo-Serbia agreements, Cliff noted that now that the post-election coalition bloc has given up the post of the speaker, there is no reason why election of Assembly leadership should be postponed. “I don’t know why the parliament has not convened today. I know they have a proposal for the speaker”, he added.

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, spoke about the current situation which he said is critical for Kosovo’s development. In a graduation ceremony for students of a private college in Pristina, Cliff said it is still quite challenging to do business in Kosovo and that Kosovo is moving slowly on the World Bank rankings for doing business. “There is still great deal of corruption and political interference that need to be overcome but nevertheless Kosovo is achieving its goal”, said Cliff.

In an interview for the website news, British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, spoke about the idea of Vetevendosje leading dialogue with Belgrade and stressed that the international community, and particularly the British Government, are not overly concerned with who will actually lead the process.  “Our position is that if there is an agreement that includes Vetevendosje, it should also incorporate commitment for implementation of dialogue agreements and its continuation. If they want to make this dialogue more transparent and reports more to the parliament, that’s fine.

British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff, said today after the session of Assembly that Kosovo should not go to extraordinary elections. Cliff told reporters that the international community will not interfere to resolve the crisis because the solution rests in the hands of political parties. Cliff also said that President Atifete Jahjaga needs to take hold of the situation and break the political deadlock.

The British Ambassador to Kosovo, Ian Cliff told Tanjug that part of the Brussels agreement, relating to the recognition of diplomas, does not function and that issue with recognition of diplomas issued by North Mitrovica University should be improved. 

The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Madam Atifete Jahjaga, received today the Ambassador of Great Britain, Sir Ian Cliff, the Ambassador of the Republic of France, Ms. Maryse Daviet, the Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Germany, Mr. Matthias Kiesler and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Italy, Mr. Salvatore Marino, whom she informed on the activities of the Kosovo institutions in the prevention and combating of extremism and radicalism.