Head of the Serbian negotiating team in dialogue with the Pristina provisional institutions of self-government Borislav Stefanovic said today that during dialogue with Pristina there will be pressure on Serbia to recognise
Kosovo's independence.

At a meeting of the Serbian parliament’s Committee for Kosovo-Metohija, Stefanovic said that two things are most important for Pristina – that Serbia confirms Kosovo’s independence in any way, which Serbia will never do, and that Serbia leaves Kosovo entirely, both through institutions and companies.

That is why during last 48 hours the Serbs living south of the Ibar have been searched and deprived of their documents.

He recalled that the negotiating team asked the international community and Pristina that the search and seizure of documents be stopped.

He expressed the belief that this will happen since the EULEX has taken investigative action.

This is all done to cast a shadow and ruin the positive effects of the Belgrade-Pristina talks, noted Stefanovic and explained that the continuation of dialogue will cover some difficult topics, including the problems of boundaries, electricity, telecommunications and customs seals.

In the talks we managed to find solutions for freedom of movement and civil registries, he said and rejected the opposition’s claims that in this way Serbia recognised Kosovo’s independence.

The Serbian negotiating team did not recognise independence in any way, nor will it do so, he said and explained that the solutions agreed are realistic and best possible at this moment.

He reiterated that Belgrade will give copies of civil registries to EULEX and that the agreement is that Pristina should submits copies of civil registries that remained in Kosovo-Metohija.

When it comes to decisions regarding the freedom of movement, Stefanovic said that the Belgrade negotiating team was led to a greater extent by the interests of Serbs south of the River Ibar and that is why it was agreed that the citizens of Kosovo-Metohija will be able to travel in Serbia with ID cards issued in Pristina.

Stefanovic explained that this will have no legal relevance, except for identification, which will be done with a special certificate that will be issued at the administrative crossing, and that Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija will continue to use their documents as before.