Serbia seeks expansion of northern Mitrovica territory as precondition for opening bridge, Petkovic says

Serbia's chief negotiator, Petar Petkov, has insisted on demarcation of cadastral borders as a precondition for opening the bridge over the Iber River, writes Online Economy.

Petkovic after the meeting in Brussels has insisted on demarcation in the Suhodol area.

“We demand respect for the agreement, where we insist on demarcation in the Suhodol area as the precondition for opening the” bridge, said Petkovic from Brussels, broadcast “Kosev”.

The next round of Kosovo dialogue has been held Tuesday, Serbia, at the level of top negotiators.
Petkov has charged that Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi has declined to have a trilateral meeting. Like Bislim has accused Petkov of not wanting a trilateral meeting.

“He has refused to meet with representatives of Belgrade because we have insisted on topics such as the AKS, postal services and implementation issues of the Ohrid Agreement. Imagine when he won't talk about these important things”, Petkov said.

Bislimic and Bislim had bilateral meetings with the EU's emissar for Kosovo dialogue Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak.

Petkovic said he has introduced Lajcak with the measures warned by Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq.

“These are comprehensive safeguard clauses for the Serb people in Kosovo and measures to revive the dialogue process that we desperately need. Only through dialogue can we find a compromise solution”, Petkovic said.

He also said he has handed over to Lajcak “the list of all Serbs arrested, political prisoners”.

“Although we have had guarantees from the US and the EU that no one who has been at the barricades will be arrested, the opposite has occurred”, Petkovic said.

Petkov has said there will also be a meeting today with NATO representatives regarding the bridge over the Iber River.

We'll talk about the bridge theme, but from the security prism, especially to point out, in a special presentation, all the risks that exist if Kurt starts opening the bridge unilaterally. This is impossible, because NATO is present on that bridge and therefore it is important to negotiate with them”, Petkovic said.