Dacic: Presenting Serbia’s Delegation in Brussels with Document on Kosovo’s Recognition Would Be a Surprise

Ivica Dacic (BETAPHOTO/Foreign Ministry/Ognjen Stevanovic)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on July 29 that it would be “a surprise” if Belgrade’s delegation in Brussels were to be presented with a document which, according to local media reports, implies Serbia’s recognition of independent Kosovo. He added that when it comes to the dialogue, there is no joint activity of the U.S. and the EU.

“At this point in the dialogue it would be a surprise… but nothing is impossible,” Dacic told the RTS public service.

Asked whether the U.S. and the EU are agreeing on moves pertaining to the dialogue, Dacic answered that he cannot say there is coordination and joint action.

“To the contrary, I think there is great pressure from the EU, i.e. big countries such as Germany and France, to marginalize [the role of] the U.S. in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue,” the minister said.

Vecernje Novosti daily reported on July 29 quoting diplomatic sources that the Serbian delegation, which is due to travel to Brussels on July 30 for talks with EU special representative Miroslav Lajcak and representatives of the Pristina institutions, will be presented with a draft of a comprehensive agreement that implies a de facto recognition of Kosovo by Serbia.

The RTS added, however, that EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told the Pristina-based Gazeta Ekspres that the EU was clear that Belgrade and Pristina would not make separate or partial agreements, but that a comprehensive agreement will be signed once an accord on all issues has been reached.