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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Solution for Kosovo-Metohija must not be imposed

Belgrade/Rome, 30 March 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica met today in Rome with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and later during the day with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. The two officials stressed during the talks that the solution for future status of Kosovo-Metohija must not be imposed, but rather a result of negotiations and compromise of both sides.

Vojislav Kostunica, left, and Ivo Sanader during the Congress of the European People's Party

Author: eppcongress2006.org

Kostunica, who is on a two-day visit to Rome where he is taking part in the Congress of the European People's Party, told the press that Sanader conveyed to him the position of Croatia, which is that no solution for Kosovo reached without Belgrade's consent will be acceptable.

He said that he also talked with Sanader about further improvement of bilateral relations between Serbia and Croatia, especially about the position of the Serbian community in Croatia.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that during his meeting with Karamanlis it was agreed that little progress has been made in the implementation of standards in Kosovo. He explained that this is a discouraging fact when it comes to the future status of the southern Serbian province.

According to Kostunica, Karamanlis reiterated once more the position of Greece that the rules of the procedure stipulate that in issues such as that of Kosovo, a compromise must be sought.

Kostunica added that he told the Greek Prime Minister that in his opinion the only compromise between the situation until 1999 and Pristina’s demand for freedom is essential autonomy advocated by Belgrade.

“All those in the region who are concerned for stability also abide by those rules. It seems to me that in solving the problem of Kosovo-Metohija nothing else is required apart from upholding international law,” said Kostunica.

He said that he also conveyed to the Greek Prime Minister Belgrade’s position, which favours the idea of integration, and not disintegration. He added that Belgrade has the same opinion when it comes to the upcoming Montenegro referendum on independence in which the EU will also play a role, which is of great importance.

Kostunica and Karamanlis also discussed Greek support to Belgrade in the process of EU integration, as well as economic cooperation between the two countries.

Kostunica said that the presence of Greek companies, and banks in particular, proves that the economic situation in Serbia is stable.

He also pointed out that Serbia is about to put an end to its cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

Recalling yesterday’s visit of the tribunal’s chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte to Belgrade, Kostunica said that it was a working visit whose aim was to sum up the results of the cooperation with the tribunal so far.

The Prime Minister said that he is satisfied with what has been done and added that these results were not easy to achieve given all the problems Serbia is facing.