OSCE Chairman calls for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina

BELGRADE, 5 April 2005 - OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel called for urgent direct dialogue between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina on the future of Kosovo.

"We hope that the Belgrade authorities will start a dialogue with Pristina at the appropriate level and are ready to assist the two sides in this regard," the Chairman-in-Office, who is also foreign minister of Slovenia, said in Belgrade late on Monday. "That dialogue should start as soon as possible and it is in everyone's interest that it should be successful."

During his visit, Minister Rupel met Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and the Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro Vuk Draskovic.

The OSCE Chairman emphasised that the common future of Serbia and Montenegro lies within the European Union. "The future of Kosovo should be sought within the European perspective," he added.

Noting that the European Union had devised a concept for the future of Kosovo under which the partition of the province, integration with any other ethnic Albanian community and a return to the pre-1999 situation would all be excluded, the Minister added: "These three elements are vital for the OSCE as well."

The Chairman-in-Office said that in considering the future of Kosovo, and of the region as a whole, the principles of inclusiveness, integration, co-operation and communication should be observed.

He urged the authorities in Belgrade to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in political life and get involved in the work of Kosovo institutions. "Active participation is necessary for Kosovo Serbs if they want to co-create their future in Kosovo," he added.

On Tuesday, the Chairman-in-Office flew to Podgorica for talks with the President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic, Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and President of the Montenegrin Parliament Ranko Krivokapic.