Vecernje Novosti: Washington in offensive, Brussels more powerless
US impatient to see the Belgrade and Pristina dialogue to continue as soon as possible, and its representatives do not hide expectations. US emissaries are shifting, and end of this week arrives and under-secretary David Hale, writes today Belgrade based daily Vecernje Novosti.
Washington's diplomatic offensive on Pristina, according to this daily, with American emissaries' sharp messages to Kosovo Albanian leaders over the recent weeks, obviously have the goal of the US to replace increasingly passive Brussels in mediating role in resolving the issue of Kosovo.
Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale arrives end of this week to Belgrade and Pristina, to discuss "a historic opportunity to reach a comprehensive agreement on the normalization of relations," announced the State Department. Immediately after him, two main foreign policy advisers of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel - Matthias Leutenberg and Jan Hackercomes are planned to arrive.
Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic sees this visit as a confirmation of how unsuccessful is to pressure Pristina.
On the occasion of Reeker's message that Belgrade was disturbing the atmosphere of progress towards agreement with its lobbying on withdrawal of Kosovo's recognition, Dacic told Vecernje Novosti that three days ago the Islamic Conference called on all countries to recognize Kosovo, and that from Serbia is asked to end its campaign, but that "do not come into consideration."
- Against illegal and unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, Serbia is fighting with all legal means. And we do not intend to give up the plan to convince states that have recognized Kosovo to withdraw that decision and to vote against their admission to international organizations. The growing nervousness of Pristina and their protectors only assures us that we have chosen the right path. It would be better if all the states interested in the solution of the Kosovo knot are investing their influence or the various mechanisms that they had used to apply on us before, to bring Pristina to its senses and to the negotiating table - Dacic said for the daily.