Minister dismisses ISG conclusions, criticizes Feith

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic today reacted to yesterday's meeting in Vienna of the International Steering Group for Kosovo (ISG). Bogdanovic said in Belgrade on Tuesday that the meeting's conclusions were not binding and that they were null and void, underscoring that Serbia does not recognize the group. Minister dismisses ISG conclusions, criticizes Feith In his statement for Tanjug, Bogdanovic said that the International Civil Office (ICO) in Kosovo Head Pieter Feith "has been trying from the very beginning to implement Ahtisaari's plan", which Serbia had rejected and which the United Nations had failed to accept. Bogdanovic evaluated that Feith's double function, that of the ICO head, and special representative of the European Union in Kosovo, "is the main obstacle for the cooperation in the field". The minister pointed out that Feith has been "intentionally and abundantly abusing his double role, referring to either depending on which one suits him better", and added that "only confusion, misunderstanding and tension result from such Feith's approach and work". According to Bogdanovic, Feith's work may best be described by the fact that he had continuously been trying to create a conflict among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to the benefit of Pristina, i.e., Kosovo's ethnic Albanians. Bogdanovic said that the plan for integration of northern, Serb areas of Kosovo was the latest in the series of ill-considered steps made by Feith, evaluating that it was directed at changing the reality in the field, creating tension, confusion and it posed a threat to stability in the region. The minister also said that Feith and those who support his plan "must be aware of the fact that they will not find anyone among the Serbs in northern Kosovo and Metohija who will help them realize this dangerous plan, and that they will suffer the consequences that would derive from an attempt to implement the plan". "The implementation of Ahtisaari (plan) is not and never will be acceptable to Belgrade," concluded Bogdanovic. Ivanovic: ISG decision not surprising The ISG decision to support the plan for the integration of northern Kosovo is not surprising, Oliver Ivanovic told B92. The state secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo said that the ISG’s support for the plan of International Civil Office Chief Pieter Feith for integrating northern Kosovo according to the Ahtisaari plan was expected. Feith, Ivanovic said, heads the UCO with the sole goal of implementing the Ahtisaari plan. The plan for Kosovo's supervised independence was never approved by the UN and is rejected by both Serbia and Russia. He said that Feith recently confirmed the existence of a plan that would integrate northern Kosovo, in which Serbs make up a majority of the population, into the Kosovo government institutions. Belgrade has rejected this plan, stating that it would be dangerous to regional stability.

Minister dismisses ISG conclusions, criticizes Feith

In his statement for Tanjug, Bogdanović said that the International Civil Office (ICO) in Kosovo Head Pieter Feith "has been trying from the very beginning to implement Ahtisaari's plan", which Serbia had rejected and which the United Nations had failed to accept.

Bogdanović evaluated that Feith's double function, that of the ICO head, and special representative of the European Union in Kosovo, "is the main obstacle for the cooperation in the field".

The minister pointed out that Feith has been "intentionally and abundantly abusing his double role, referring to either depending on which one suits him better", and added that "only confusion, misunderstanding and tension result from such Feith's approach and work".

According to Bogdanović, Feith's work may best be described by the fact that he had continuously been trying to create a conflict among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to the benefit of Priština, i.e., Kosovo's ethnic Albanians.

Bogdanović said that the plan for integration of northern, Serb areas of Kosovo was the latest in the series of ill-considered steps made by Feith, evaluating that it was directed at changing the reality in the field, creating tension, confusion and it posed a threat to stability in the region.

The minister also said that Feith and those who support his plan "must be aware of the fact that they will not find anyone among the Serbs in northern Kosovo and Metohija who will help them realize this dangerous plan, and that they will suffer the consequences that would derive from an attempt to implement the plan".

"The implementation of Ahtisaari (plan) is not and never will be acceptable to Belgrade," concluded Bogdanović.

Ivanović: ISG decision not surprising

The ISG decision to support the plan for the integration of northern Kosovo is not surprising, Oliver Ivanović told B92.

The state secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo said that the ISG’s support for the plan of International Civil Office Chief Pieter Feith for integrating northern Kosovo according to the Ahtisaari plan was expected.

Feith, Ivanović said, heads the UCO with the sole goal of implementing the Ahtisaari plan.

The plan for Kosovo's supervised independence was never approved by the UN and is rejected by both Serbia and Russia.

He said that Feith recently confirmed the existence of a plan that would integrate northern Kosovo, in which Serbs make up a majority of the population, into the Kosovo government institutions.

Belgrade has rejected this plan, stating that it would be dangerous to regional stability.