Ischinger’s Early Spin
German Mediator Misrepresenting the Facts
The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija warned late on Thursday that the statement EU representative to the Contact Group mediating troika Wolfgang Ischinger has made at the recent press conference in Vienna, claiming that several proposals had been presented during negotiations, but “the Serbian side had not found any of them suitable” — does not correspond to reality.
Ischinger is Already Rewriting the History
Expressing surprise and disapproval of Ischinger’s statement, the Ministry pointed out that of all the papers the troika had presented to the state negotiating team during the negotiations, only the 14-item working paper had been presented as a joint document of all three members of the troika.
All the other suggestions were made by individual members of the troika and can in no way be subsequently viewed as troika’s joint proposals, Kosovo-Metohija Ministry said.
The Ministry warns of the possible consequences of such statements ahead of the drafting and presentation of the troika’s report, since the body is expected to present an objective account of the negotiations which will rely on facts.
Serbian Officials Were the Only Ones Negotiating
The Ministry reminded that during the whole period of negotiations, the Serbian side has taken a very active role, presenting a detailed, fully worked-out proposals on essential autonomy for Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija. During the 120-days of negotiations, Serbian officials have offered comparative proposals corresponding with the models of similar wide autonomies existing in today’s world, such as the ones of Hong Kong, the Aland Islands, Iceland and others. Belgrade’s constructiveness has been acknowledged and recognized by the international public, as well as in expert and diplomatic circles.
Kosovo Albanian representatives, on the other hand, have offered nothing except a demand for independence.