Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said at yesterday’s session of the UN Security Council that Belgrade is ready for the dialog on Kosmet on a high level. Dacic’s presence at the session and the unexpected address to members of that body by Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci clearly shows that both sides are ready for the dialog, believes professor Predrag Simic from the Faculty of Political Sceince. However, he is of the opinion that such dialog will not come soon, due to Belgrade and Pristina having completely opposite requirements and expectations of it.
“The Security Council session would have been a routine one if there had not been for the circumstances that made it extraordinary. It was the first appearance of the new Serbian Prime Minister and the chance to publicly announce the goals and intentions of the Belgrade authorities towards Pristina. But, it was also the opportunity to have Hashim Thaci at the table, even if not planned, so the impression was that the two sides have presented their starting positions prior to the announced negotiations that will be run on the highest level, although not very soon, and not about the technical topics as it has been so far”, Simic told our Radio.
He believes that Dacic’s messages reflect the new view and objectives in Serbia, and says that the hitherto talks have yielded rather controversial results. “A good example is the footnote that should accompany the title of Kosovo and Metohija during the representation in the regional gatherings. The public is not acquainted with what was specifically agreed, is it a footnote or not, and how does it look”, emphasized Simic. According to him, it is good that Belgrade keeps insisting on the strengthening of UN’s role in the dialog. “Having in mind that Belgrade is not satisfied with the manner of EU mediation, and I personally think that Robert Cooper’s part was neither unbiased, nor diplomatic and competent. Therefore, the stronger part of UNMIK is required, to create a better framework for the dialog and relations of Belgrade and Pristina”, Simic stressed.
Still, our collocutor does not expect the quick realization of the dialog on a high level, because the stances of Belgrade and Pristina on most issues are opposing. “Belgrade expects to raise the talks to the political level, bringing back to the table the matter of sovereignty and some of the topics that in the meantime have been removed by certain representatives of the international community. Pristina, on the other hand, sees the dialog as the way to finalize the process of its international recognition, thus creating the conditions for membership in the international organizations, which at the moment is unavailable. So, the mutual consensus on the readiness should not deceive us, because it hides radically different goals – not only during the talks, but regarding their preparation, too. If it becomes a reality, there are disputes that must be solved, but they contain the opposing stances not only of Belgrade and Pristina, but among key international factors, i.e. permanent members of the UN Security Council”, concluded professor Predrag Simic.