Chocolate: dachiqi's idea of exchange of territories dangerous

Officials in Serbia must refrain from dangerous political statements about partitioning Kosovo, Bekim Colaku, chief of Kosovo President Hashim Thaci's staff, has declared.

His statement to Radio Free Europe has followed an interview by Serbia's Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic, who has told Serbian media that a type of “demarcation could be established for Serbs and Albanians”.

“demarkation or whatever it is called. What is Serbian, what is Albanian”, Dacic has said.

“Of course, we welcome any internal public discussion in Serbia, aimed at helping Serbia's decisionmakers and people understand and accept the reality of an independent Kosovo”, Colaku has said.

“Given the fact that most of Serbia's citizens have understood the reality of an independent Kosovo many years ago, however, we remain cautiously optimistic about concrete results from Serbia's leadership”, he said.

However, Colaku has warned that “this internal debate in Serbia should not serve as a platform to promote all sorts of ideas or proposals”.

At least, we expect Serbia's officials to refrain from coming up with public statements, which include dangerous proposals such as division, exchange of territories or changing borders”, he stressed.

These ideas, no matter where they come from, are simply outdated and do not contribute to stability in the region, given what consequences these proposals would have as a result of the so-called domino effect for the entire region”, Colak points out.

However, he has continued, official Pristina considers the time has come for the full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

The leadership in both countries is fully aware that there will be no membership in the EU or NATO for Kosovo and Serbia, without a full normalisation of relations between the two states. No matter how difficult this process may be, the leadership in Serbia and Kosovo must find the right way to achieve that goal”, Colak has indicated.

They owe their people first of all and next generations. We in Kosovo remain committed and willing to achieve this goal and open the new chapter of co-operation, and also expect the same willingness and commitment by leadership in Serbia”, he has said.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, even in the past, has promoted ideas about partitioning Kosovo. Lastly, both Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, has demanded an internal debate in Serbia over the Kosovo issue, which Serbia still views as unresolved, despite the fact that Kosovo has already recognised 114 states.