Ljajic reminds Volin: Kosovo divide good solution for Serbia, but delayed option

Serbia's Minister of Trade and Telecommunication in Government, Rasim Ljajic, has said that partitioning Kosovo is a good solution, but delayed, which even opposes a large part of the international community because of the impact it would have on other countries in the region.

Ljajic has told the Serbian newspaper “Blic” that he believes Albanians “would accept” partitioning Kosovo, as if someone were offering that solution before 1999.

He said maintaining the frozen conflict as a solution to the Kosovo issue means freezing European integration, foreign investment, internal reforms and modernisation of the country.

“This is an option that has its own price ... and on the other hand does not guarantee that our negotiating position will improve in the future”, Ljajic said, adding that the frozen conflict option brings populist expectations that Serbia's position can improve.
According to him, in resolving relations with Kosovo, reality shows that time is not Serbia's best ally.

Ljajic recalled that the SDSM, the party he is leading, shortly after the opening of internal dialogue regarding Kosovo, offered a solution meaning three phases or three groups of issues that will be negotiated with Pristina.
After these negotiations, a period of 3-5 years for implementation of the agreement would follow, after which an international conference on Kosovo status would be held”, Ljajic said.

Commenting on a solution to the Kosovo issue, according to the two Germans' model, Lajiq said it would be acceptable in just one segment: “We agree not to know each other, but we must endure and live next to each other”.