Blair's spokesman, Serbian official deny Kostunica "blackmailed" over Kosovo
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - June 29, 2006 Thursday

Text of report by "D.M." entitled "Independence was not as much as mentioned" published by the Serbian newspaper Glas javnosti on 29 June

Belgrade: The press office of British Prime Minister Tony Blair has, exclusively for Glas javnosti, denied reports in the Serbian media and some foreign media as well, according to which [Serbian President] Vojislav Kostunica was asked in London two days ago to accept independence for Kosovo. Blair's press spokesmen strongly condemned the attempt by Serbian journalists to pass off the views of some British analysts and politicians as the official position and policy of Downing Street towards Serbia. The cabinet of the head of the British Government was especially disappointed by false interpretations according to which Blair allegedly blackmailed Kostunica, asking the Serbian prime minister to swap Kosovo for EU membership.

"There was no blackmail. Tony Blair in no way told Kostunica that Kosovo should be independent; he only said that the final solution should guarantee stability and the rights of the minorities and that it should be adopted by the end of the year. This certainly cannot be interpreted as an appeal or blackmail for Kosovo's independence," the British prime minister's media spokesman John Pratt told Glas Javnosti yesterday [28 June]. Did your prime minister say that he was given a message about Kosmet's [Kosovo-Metohija] independence [no quotation marks, as published], Pratt asked rhetorically, adding that none of the participants in the meeting had passed on to the media the story about an independent Kosovo, because there had been no story to pass on.

"This is just empty speculation by your media and ours. Also, what British analysts and others say is not authoritative, because it was not said either by Blair or by us in the media office, or by our government," Pratt said explicitly.

Sanda Raskovic Ivic, chairperson of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo, who was on the Serbian delegation to London, told the BBC after the meeting between the two prime ministers that "the independence of Kosovo was not mentioned by so much as a word".

"All that he [Blair] said was that Kosovo is a highly delicate problem that requires delicate handling. He even offered his personal good offices for resuming EU association talks without even mentioning Mladic, let alone any kind of independence for Kosovo," Raskovic Ivic said, adding that the meetings in London persuaded her that those who think that the future of Kosovo has already been decided are wrong.

"The Anglo-American bloc has been the loudest in calling for independence, but what we heard in London and from Prime Minister Blair himself is certainly encouraging," Raskovic Ivic said.

It is being said in the circles of the governing coalition that, although the visit did in fact go off well, now is not the time to be shouting this from the rooftops and that much work still remains to be done.

"Our position is rational, open to compromise, and favourable for all. As a rational man, I expect all other participants in the process, too, to have a rational attitude and to be open to compromise," DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia] deputy chairman Aleksandar Popovic said, commenting on the positive talks at 10 Downing Street.

In the final analysis, the Serbian media should perhaps be pardoned, because they have a living to make and threats seem to sell best. After all, even The Financial Times could not resist writing in the run-up to the two prime ministers' meeting that the main message would be that "Serbia must accept a different vision of the future shape of Southeastern Europe or face increasing isolation and dwindling chances of a rapprochement with the European Union". Fortunately, Blair gave them the lie.

Source: Glas javnosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 29 Jun 06

Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation
Posted for Fair Use only.