UNMIK on AIR

Dialogue

Wednesday 18^th 2004

SLUG: Four months have passed since representatives from Belgrade and Pristina met in Vienna last year to outline the agenda for Dialogue. Both sides have verbally agreed to talks, and yet today, the substance of such talks remains elusive.

Hello and welcome. This is UNMIK on AIR

The month of February began with speculation about whether or not technical talks between representatives from Pristina and Belgrade—scheduled in Vienna last October 14^th—would actually take place by the February deadline.

After a meeting between UNMIK’s SRSG, Harri Holkeri, and the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, also the President of Coordination Center for Kosovo, Nebojsa Covic, it was announced this week that the Pristina-Belgrade direct dialogue would indeed take place either in the last week of February or the first week of March.

SRSG Holkeri:

CUT 1 Holkeri: As you have been told we tried to get the start already this week but let me say that some technicalities have to be solved so we need perhaps one week more. But I’m looking forward and counting only days before the dialogue would start.

The first formal meeting to discuss dialogue, one of the Standards mandated for Kosovo, took place last October 14^th in Vienna. The priority of that meeting was to begin direct dialogue about practical issues of mutual concern through working groups for energy, transportation and telecommunication, missing and returns. It was not envisioned to establish high level diplomatic relations.

According to UNMIK spokesperson, Izabella Karlowicz, talks are expected to continue in this direction:

CUT 2 Izabella: The formula of dialogue, of course isn’t changed. That is that the level of the talks is technical. They will gather experts, technicians, on given subject on both sides. So it is not political dialogue it’s a technical dialogue about practical issues.

The aim of this first meeting post-Vienna is to tackle two of the working groups: missing and energy and at a later date take up the remaining two issues.

Kosovo’s Government has expressed readiness to talk on these technical grounds and has already named delegates to participate.

The Serbian Government has also moved on the working groups… Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Coordination Center for Kosovo, Nebojsa Covic, announced this week that he’s already submitted to UNMIK agenda ideas for these talks.

CUT 3 Covic : Expecting a constructive approach from the other side, I’ve presented agenda that had been suggested by our ministries of energy and transport and telecommunication. Now the agenda for talks has to be brought into accord. (edit to) It is also very important to harmonize procedures, more precisely: what are the working groups presidents’ responsibilities, what are their rights, their permits as well the is the way of bringing decisions.

In recent days, Pristina media has broadcast and printed a number of statements given by local Kosovo officials charging that the Coordination Center for Kosovo, or CCK, cannot be a partner in the talks. The local Pristina media also circulated concerns by Kosovo Government officials that the delayed formation of a new Serbian government is an obstacle to the talks.

Dragisa Krstovic, leader of the Coalition Povratak, said Belgrade officials are expected to submit names of its nominees to the first set of working groups by Wednesday, February 18^th.

This week, SRSG Holkeri dismissed concerns that the delegation from Belgrade lacks legitimacy:

CUT 4 Holkeri :The delegation coming from Belgrade is a Belgrade delegation. It’s authorized by the Government of Serbia, whatever the Government is. But it’s a Belgrade delegation. And our delegation from Pristina is Pristina delegation.

In the meantime, Kosovo government authorities could not be reached for comment on this story- an unnamed source in the government said that only Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi is authorized to make public statements on the dialogue.

Even so, details such as a meeting location and a specific date have yet to be set for talks.

That is all for this edition of UMIK on AIR, thank you for listening and stay tuned for more…