6 hours agoVuciq: I am not the one who chooses whom I meet from the Kosovo side
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq said Friday that peace talks in Kosovo should resume despite charges of war crimes brought against Kosovo President Hashim Thaci. In an interview for “Politco” in Brussels, Vuciq signaled that he would still be willing to meet with Thaci if Kosovo leaders decided to [...]
In an interview for “Politco” in Brussels, Vuciq signaled that he would still be willing to meet with Thaci if Kosovo leaders decided to make that part of their delegation for future talks. But he said he didn't believe they would.
This isn't mine. I can always say I won't talk to someone who's accused of war crimes but it's not me who's going to choose. It is up to the Albanian leadership”, Vuciuk said.
Prosecutors at the Special Court said Wednesday they had pressed charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes against Thaci and others. A judge is considering the indictment to decide whether to confirm the allegations, which claim the group is responsible for nearly 100 murders and that victims of their crimes include Kosovo Albanians, Serbs, Roma and members of other ethnic groups.
News of the indictment influenced plans for talks on economic co-operation between the two sides, led by Vuciq and Thaci, at the White House on Saturday.
Vucic said he would not comment on the indictment. But he made it clear that he wants an EU-sponsored dialogue on relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which has stalled for more than a year, to begin again. The EU has signaled that it intends to resume dialogue next month.
“We need to resume our process of dialogue with anyone the Albanian side will choose as their representative,” he said. “must continue. Otherwise, what could happen? What would be the prospect of an entire region?”
EU-backed talks aim to reach a permanent solution between the two sides, more than two decades after the end of the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade continues to view territory as a rebel province. With the support of its ally Russia, it has stopped Kosovo from membership in the United Nations and other international organisations.
The EU has clarified that a permanent solution is a precondition for each country to become a member of the bloc. Serbia has been in EU membership talks since 2014; the bloc classified Kosovo as a potential candidate for membership.
