Dačić, Thaci continue dialogue in Brussels

Source: Beta, Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci will meet on Monday to continue their dialogue on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Priština.

(Beta, file)

The heads of the two governments will hold the meeting in Brussels, with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's mediation.
The talks today constitute the 13th round of their dialogue.

Thaci said on Sunday evening that he was "optimistic that agreement would be reached on telecom and energy," and that the "high-level meeting" was necessary to make "final decisions."

According to reports, "there is optimism in Brussels that agreement will be achieved on one, or even both topics."

Ashton is due to arrive in Belgrade on Tuesday, where she and top Serbia officials will ,according to announcements, "consider the agreements reached in the dialogue, as well as the progress in Serbia's EU integrations."

She will on Wednesday travel to Priština.

"All issues are on the table"

Spokeswoman for Ashton Maja Kocijančič said ahead of Monday's round of dialogue that Dačić and Thaci will discuss all issues related to the implementation of the Brussels agreement.

"All issues are on the table," she told reporters at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, adding this includes issues related to electricity, telecommunications and other items on which the technical teams were unable to reach agreement.

She said High Representative Catherine Ashton will first meet with Dačić and then Taci, after which all three will sit down for a meeting together.

Asked to comment on the failure last week of the assembly in Priština to adopt an amnesty bill, the spokeswoman said its passage is an important step in the implementation of the agreement.

"A new bill is already in the works," said Kocijančič.