DS MP: Pristina no longer has excuse to hold off dialogue

BELGRADE - Borislav Stefanovic, head of the MP group of the opposition Democratic Party (DS) in the Serbian parliament, said Monday that appointments of three Serbian ministers in the Kosovo government would be good news, observing that after forming its government, Pristina no longer had any excuse for blocking the process of negotiations with Belgrade.

Stefanovic expressed regret that the influence of the Serb minority on the policies pursued by the Kosovo institutions would continue to be very small.

"Unfortunately, this influence will most probably remain very small, coupled with the enormous blackmailing capacity of the Albanian ethnic majority," Stefanovic told reporters in the Serbian parliament.

Commenting on Pristina's announcement to appoint three Serb ministers to positions in the new Kosovo government, Stefanovic said that it could be good news in the sense that the procedures and steps concerning forming a community of Serb municipalities could be stepped up.

Stefanovic expects that the long awaited and promised part of the Brussels agreement will soon start being implemented and that the setting up of the new government in Kosovo will unblock the process of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, as Pristina no longer has any justification to hold it up.

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