“A key topic of debate in Belgrade is the ‘land swap’ proposal; a ‘comprehensive deal’ that would allow Serbia regain disputed territory (North Kosovo) in exchange for Serbia recognising Kosovo as a state. It is, however, not clear whether the Vucic-Thaci talks are going anywhere; nor whether any deal could be sold in Kosovo.
If latest revoking of recognitions of Kosovo are not true, as Pristina representatives claim, why do they complain because of that, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic wondered in a statement given to Prva TV.
Pristina authorities, earlier complained to the international institutions “over Serbia’s attitude” respectively over latest revoking of recognitions of Kosovo independence, while Serbia received message to be take care of its attitude in order not to irritate Albanians.
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke on Friday in Belgrade with Co-Chair of the Serbian Caucus at the US Congress Ted Poe, B92 reports.
They touched on the current political situation and the continuation of economic cooperation, the Serbian government announced.
Branbic thanked Poe for good cooperation so far and stressed that it is important for Serbia to have the support of the United States of America to continue the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina.
First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic announced on Sunday that Grenada is the ninth country that has withdrawn the recognition of Kosovo.
On Friday, it was announced that the Commonwealth of Dominica, also a Caribbean state, was the 8th country to have revoked its recognition of Kosovo as an independent state.
Serbia’s citizens are split in understanding what the term separation from Kosovo means, with 41 percent saying they know the meaning and 39 admitting they have no clue, shows the latest opinion poll by the Demostat, investigative publishing centre, the Beta news agency reported on Friday.
The poll was conducted from October 7 to 18 and covered 1,200 people.
Belgrade is ready for a compromise with Pristina, but at this moment it is still far away, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said, Tanjug news agency reported.
Brnabic also noted that those from the outside should not speak about “red lines” before hearing about a possible agreement between the two sides.
The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is already difficult, complex and emotional and it makes no sense to additionally draw some “red lines,” she added.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday his country needed peace above all, but pleaded with others “not to confuse that with a weakness,” since the country knew how to defend its freedom by arms during the First World War, and will know how to do the same if someone endangers it,” Beta news agency reported.
The issue of Kosovo and Metohija has been included back on the agenda of the UN Security Council. The next session that will consider a report on the situation in the southern Serbian province has been scheduled for November 14.
This has been confirmed for Tanjug by First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.
"The program of the SC's work for November has been adopted, where a session dedicated to KiM (Kosovo and Metohija) is back on the agenda, and scheduled for November 14," he said.
Mike Pompeo has been asked for "continued support of Serbia's efforts seeking a peaceful, negotiated and sustainable solution to its relations with Kosovo." This was done by a group of eight US congressmen, Tanjug reported on Thursday.
"Such a diplomatic breakthrough would not only potentially achieve lasting peace and stability in the Balkans but would also reaffirm the United States' enduring commitment to transatlantic security," they wrote in a letter to the US Secretary of State.
The security situation in Kosovo and Metohija is complex, Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said. He also added that the President Aleksandar Vucic is not the enemy of the Albanians living in Kosovo - but of those who want to expel and kill the Serbs living in that southern province.