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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Russia supports Serbia's stance on Kosovo

Belgrade/Moscow, 10 March 2006

Head of the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija Sanda Raskovic-Ivic today said that Russia, which strongly supports the principle of universality in resolving conflicts, is on the same wavelength with Serbia when it comes to the issue of the southern Serbian province.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of a three-day working visit of a Serbian delegation to Russia, Raskovic-Ivic said that upholding the principle of universality means upholding the principle of peace. Advocating the principle of universality, which is the firm stance of Russian President Vladimir Putin, means advocating respect of international law and the principle of inviolability of state borders which applies to all countries, said Raskovic-Ivic.

She said that in the talks with Russian officials, Serbian delegation presented the firm position that Kosovo-Metohija must remain within borders of Serbia-Montenegro and recalled that the Serbian platform themed "more than autonomy, less than independence" has been endorsed by all the most senior Serbian government bodies.

Ethnic Albanians are not being denied anything they enjoy or possess now, but they cannot have a seat at the United Nations, a ministry of foreign affairs or a minister of defence, stressed Raskovic-Ivic. She added that setting precedents or creating new conflict zones will not suit anyone at this moment and Russia supports this position.

She said that although nobody can guarantee100% how someone may behave in the future, what the Serbian delegation was told in Moscow was nevertheless encouraging.

Advisor to the Serbian President Aleksandar Simic said that the delegation was told that at the meeting held on January 31 in London, the Contact Group for Kosovo was not unanimous in its position.

He said that Russia did not approve any time limitations to the negotiating process, nor did it agree that the Kosovo issue was a "unique case" to be solved in a unique manner. Russia was also strongly against "giving personal statements" as has been done on some occasions, he added.

Simic stressed that the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija does not have the right to independence and reiterated that what the Belgrade authorities are offering is essential autonomy as laid out by UN SC Resolution 1244. This solution has been unanimously accepted by the authorities in Belgrade, he concluded.