Takeover of mine "would deal heavy blow to Kosovo talks"

Takeover of mine "would deal heavy blow to Kosovo talks"

BELGRADE -- Aleksandar Vucic says a unilateral decision of the Kosovo government to take over Trepca "would deal a heavy blow to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue."

According to Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore, the government of Kosovo adopted the bill modifying the law on public enterprises, paving the way for the Kosovo government to take over the ownership of the Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca.

The presidency of the assembly of Kosovo decided - contrary to the rules of procedure - to debate the bill under urgent procedure at the session scheduled for January 19.

Commenting on the issue, Vucic stressed on Thursday that this is a matter of utmost importance for Serbia, which has now been raised due to internal problems in Kosovo, and expressed hope that the Serbian government will be able to resolve it.

If the bill modifying the law on privatization is adopted on Monday, it will pose a serious obstacle and a serious problem, said Vucic, adding that he already informed all Western partners about the issue.

"I have been working on this today, and I will be working on it tomorrow too. None of us will sleep until Monday," Vucic told reporters on his visit to Obrenovac.

Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca is one of the most important Serbian enterprises in Kosovo and Metohija and one of tremendous value. It has been a point of dispute between Belgrade and Pristina ever since the ethnic Albanians in the southern Serbian province unilaterally proclaimed independence in 2008.

The Trepca combine has existed for over 85 years and it used to employ 25,000 people. Today it has some 2,500 employees, including 1,500 ethnic...