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“.
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.
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.
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.
Serbia’n Refugee Commissioner Vladimir Cucic welcomed today the Serbia-European Union agreement on the Frontex border service as well-thought out, TV N1 reported.
“Frontex has been present here for 2-3 years. This was a well-thought out step by the Internal Affairs Ministry, knowing our place on the (migrant) route. Serbia loses nothing with it,” he told the Serbian state TV.
EU Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner, Johannes Hahn said that Belgrade-Pristina agreement must be specific and harmonized, and not a precedent, as well as in line with international law, BETA news agency reported.
“Stance of EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, as a mediator in these negotiations, is clear and it has been clear since the beginning of her mandate – joint action for lasting peace between Serbia and Kosovo, and in the region as a whole, is the main EU’s priority,” Hahn told Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda.
Head of EU Delegation in Serbia, Sem Fabrizi said the EU would not deal with each and every statement when it comes to Kosovo and Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, B92 reports today.
“Ours is to provide peace and full normalization of relations,” Fabrizi added.
Asked to comment on how much statements of Pristina can be considered as dangerous, Fabrizi responded he does not want to comment on that because he does not deal with individual statements.