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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

No changes to Serbia-Montenegro’s borders, sovereignty and territorial integrity must be preserved

Belgrade, 24 May 2005

The Serbian government held a session today to discuss the political situation in Kosovo-Metohija. Serbian President Boris Tadic, Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic, and Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Nebojsa Covic also took part in the session.

At the session, the government unanimously adopted the Conclusion on the basis for participation of the Serbia-Montenegrin delegation, led by Covic, to the UN Security Council session on May 27. The participants in the meeting stressed the need for pointing to the actual state of the Serb community in Kosovo-Metohija. It was especially stressed that there is no protection of basic human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanians, that there is no freedom of movement, that there is no protection of their property, and that Serbs are still exposed to violence. Also, no progress has been made in the return of the displaced Serb population, as confirmed by UNMIK data that shows that around three percent of Serbs have so far returned to the province.

Once again, the stance about the inalterability of Serbia-Montenegro’s state borders and the necessity to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity were confirmed. It was also stressed that the authorities are open for cooperation with all international factors in seeking a peaceful, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Kosovo-Metohija issue. The UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244 must be implemented in all its essential provisions, which has not yet been the case. The UN Security Council is the sole institutional framework for making authoritative international decisions.

The problem of Kosovo-Metohija must be resolved through agreement and compromise, and, above all, with full respect for the basic international principle of preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, that is the preservation of existing borders in Europe. Such a solution must be sought through compromise in political communication between Belgrade, Pristina, and relevant representatives of the international community, and based on existing high autonomies in EU countries.

The Serbian government also adopted a Conclusion on “Measures and Activities for Creating Conditions for Return to Kosovo-Metohija”, recommended by the Council for Kosovo-Metohija. It was especially emphasised that the concept of return is based on the Serbian government’s Plan for Kosovo-Metohija and the decentralisation proposal.

An Information and Conclusion were adopted at the session based on the initiative of Serbian President Boris Tadic and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to commence dialogue with representatives of provisional self-government institutions in Kosovo-Metohija.

It was pointed out in the Conclusion that the Serbian President and Prime Minister still extend invitations for the beginning of dialogue on all issues to representatives of provisional self-government institutions in Kosovo-Metohija, President Ibrahim Rugova and Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi.

The Serbian President and Prime Minister are prepared to begin dialogue immediately and call upon representatives of provisional self-government institutions in Kosovo-Metohija to accept their invitation without further conditioning. It was emphasised in the Conclusion that the talks should be held in the place where the problems originated and still exist, namely Kosovo-Metohija.

All adopted Serbian government Conclusions were supported by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Serbia-Montenegrin Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic and head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Nebojsa Covic.