Serbian President: Compromise on Kosovo Possible

Serbian President Boris Tadic says a compromise with Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians on the future status of the province is possible if both sides make concessions. During the second day of mediated-talks on the issue Tuesday in Austria, President Tadic offered self-governance and many elements of statehood for the contested province. Serbia would retain control over Kosovo’s foreign policy, defense and border control.

Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian team insists on complete independence from Belgrade.

Negotiations are to be completed by December 10 when a U.N. report on the issue is due.

The Russian mediator in the talks, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, told reporters he would insist that negotiations continue.

The three-day closed-door talks in the Austrian spa town of Baden end Wednesday.

Mr. Tadic issued a statement suggesting a list of concessions the two sides should make. He said in addition to having its own flag, anthem and other national symbols, Kosovo could have its own representatives in most international organizations, except the United Nations, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.

The “troika” of U.S., European Union and Russian mediators is due to submit a report on the progress of the talks on Kosovo to the U.N. secretary-general by December 10.

Kosovo is widely expected to proclaim independence from Serbia soon after that. Pristina says it will act in cooperation with the U.S. and the European Union.

Serbian Prime Minister Kostunica said Monday that Serbia will not give “an inch of its territory,” and he called on the Albanian leaders to negotiate in good faith rather than bide their time until December 10. He said it would be wrong for anyone to assume that Serbia will accept an unwanted solution for Kosovo.

by VOA News

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