French daily newspaper Le Monde has published two articles on the possible exchange of territories between Belgrade and Pristina, as well as a Kosovo map showing their interpretation on what the “border change“ would look like.
Le Monde also pointed out that the “ethnic mosaic, key infrastructure and cultural objects are obstacles to the project of redefining the borders“.
Negotiations on Kosovo under the auspices of the EU have yielded no results, without US, Russia and China it is impossible to achieve a viable and applicable compromise between Belgrade and Pristina, said Minister of Innovation and Technological Development Nenad Popovic, adding that the issue of Kosovo slowly returns to the Security Council of the UN, the Serbian media reported.
Secretary General of the Serbian President, Nikola Selakovic said he expects nothing new or epochal from Serbian and Pristina delegations’ talks in New York, Serbian media reported.
He told Prva TV these talks are ongoing, terming them as “difficult and heavy.”
“President Aleksandar Vucic in relation to Kosovo and Metohija tried to find a right angle, position that is difficult to find and choose in order to preserve and keep survival and remain of Serbia and Serbian interests in Kosovo and Metohija,” Selakovic noted.
People's Party Vice President Sinisa Kovacevic signed a petition "One signature changes everything" and pointed out that the solution to the issue of Kosovo should be sought in an agreement of some future, wiser and more responsible Serbian and Albanian politicians, without international interference, reported Serbian national broadcaster RTS.
It wouldn’t be wise to “deposit” negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, especially not until there is something tangible which could end that process, USA Ambassador in Belgrade Kyle Scott said.
Speaking for FoNet news agency, Scott added the USA is not directly involved in the Serbia-Kosovo talks, which are mediated by the European Union, and he emphasized it was necessary to focus on “a comprehensive agreement and solutions.”
Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic met on Friday in Banja Luka with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Dacic and Lavrov assessed on this occasion that the level of trust and high dynamics of Russian-Serbian contacts show that relations between the two countries are continuously and productively evolving, the Serbian government has announced.
The two ministers agreed that the relations between Moscow and Belgrade are progressing in each field, assessing that mutual relations have reached a very high level of strategic partnership.
The highest Serbian and Kosovo officials are currently staying in New York, where the United Nations General Assembly is taking place. The Serbian delegation is led by Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic. Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, lead the Kosovo delegation, KoSSev portal reports.
TL: Mr. Ambassador, thank you for talking toKoSSev.
AMB: It’s great to be here Tatjana. Thank you.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that once more double standards and hypocrisy were shown because no one is reacting to statements coming from Pristina, B92 reports.
Commenting on Haradinaj’s statement who said earlier, there would be no border between Kosovo and Albania, and if there would be a change of borders “military boots” will be needed again, Vucic said if he had said something like that “the UN Security Council would have four sessions until now.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Greek daily he is worried about Belgrade-Pristina negotiations, adding that “an attempt to eliminate diversity by changing the border lines is dangerous,” Beta news agency reports.
Speaking to the Greek Kathimerini newspaper, Mass noted that “real reconciliation should happen between Serbia and Kosovo."
“The only adequate way for this to happen is (to show) more tolerance and accept diversities,” Maas said, adding an attempt to eliminate them by moving the border lines would be dangerous.