Political status of Kosovo

BELGRADE - No long-term solution has been found for the problem of Kosovo, and Belgrade and Pristina need to find a compromise, Austrian Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said in Belgrade on Monday.

Serbia must recognize Kosovo's independence as a condition of joining the European Union, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has said.

This is what the Pristina daily Koha Ditore writes, stating that the EU has betrayed Kosovo because it remained neutral in relation to its status, Beta agency is reporting.

And - Belgrade and Pristina need to arrive at a compromise solution, he said in Belgrade on Monday.

"Nothing can function unilaterally," Strache remarked during a joint news conference with Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

Tanin is in Belgrade as part of his regular visit to Belgrade ahead of the upcoming UN Security Council session on the work of UNMIK, the Serbian government announced, citing a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

While Serbian politicians, including the President, publicly mull holding a referendum on Serbia- Kosovo relations, few experts believe it will solve much.

Speaking in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday, the Albanian prime minister said this could happen "under the assumption that Serbia recognizes Kosovo."

"This is a performance-based process. Serbia has advantage because it is already negotiating and we hope to start negotiations this year," Rama said.

It should treat Kosovo and protection of human and minority rights in a different manner, as well as the position of Vojvodina, the party said in a statement.

The Serbian president says Serbia and Kosovo will exchange information on the killing of ethnic Serb politician, despite Pristina rejecting Belgrade’s request to take part in the investigation.

German and French envoys are adding to diplomatic pressure on Kosovo not to try to stop the new Specialist Chambers – which will try former Kosovo guerrillas – from coming into operation.