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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Essential autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija as mutually acceptable solution

Belgrade/New York, 23 October 2005

Advisor to the Serbian Prime Minister Slobodan Samardzic said today that at tomorrow’s session, it is expected that the UN Security Council will reach a decision on starting the process of defining the future status of Kosovo-Metohija. He added that this decision will mark only the beginning of talks.

Slobodan Samardzic

In a statement to the Tanjug news agency, Samardzic said that nothing spectacular should be expected to happen at the session, explaining that it is yet to be seen in what manner and under which circumstances the talks will be conducted.

Samardzic pointed out that the session will be an opportunity for the Serbian Prime Minister to present his government’s view on the situation in the province, together with Serbia’s basic positions towards the best way of dealing with the issue of Kosovo-Metohija.

He also stressed that the Serbian side believes the Security Council and all its members will respect the basic principles and norms of international law, before all those, regulating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Samardzic added that those norms have originated in Europe, and that Europe has had various means of and experience in dealing with certain specific issues, particularly after World War II.

The Serbian government believes it is possible to find one form of essential autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija that would be acceptable for both sides, a form that would be defined during the long process of negotiations, Samardzic pointed out. He reiterated that tomorrow’s session will mark only the beginning of that long process, which will last as long as it is necessary to find a permanent, mutually acceptable solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.