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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Kosovo status should be solved through essential autonomy and preservation of existing borders

Belgrade/Berlin, 16 May 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today in Berlin that he told German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the talks that the Serbian side will soon come up with certain proposals in the negotiations on future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

Vojislav Kostunica

Kostunica told the press that he informed the German Foreign Minister on the course of the negotiations in Vienna so far, as well as on the Serbian view of the province's status, which should be realised through a form of substantial autonomy and preservation of the existing borders in the Balkans.

The Prime Minister stressed once more that a compromise must be reached in the resolution of this issue.

The space given to UN Envoy Marti Ahtisaari is narrow, but there are possibilities for compromise though. That narrow space is something between the situation in Kosovo prior to 1999 and independence. Independence is not a compromise, but rather giving in to one point of view, Kostunica pointed out.

He said that Germany expects Belgrade to have a constructive approach in the negotiations on Kosovo.

Kostunica said that Steinmeier conveyed the position from yesterday's meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels that negotiations with Serbia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement will be continued the moment Serbia fulfils the only remaining obstacle in the cooperation with the Hague tribunal, and that is the case of General Ratko Mladic.

According to Kostunica, in all the meetings so far it has been pointed out that everything should be done so that the negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement continue. Their continuation is in the interest of Brussels and Serbia, as well as that Serbia-Montenegro be a factor of stability in the Western Balkans.

Explaining that the negotiations have been called off due to technical difficulties and not due to a lack of political will, Kostunica said that there is a positive energy in all talks and the desire for their continuation.

Kostunica said that in talks with Steinmeier on the referendum in Montenegro he expressed the expectation that the referendum will show the European face of Montenegro and a European choice, and that is integration and preservation of existing states in the Balkans and their harmonious inclusion in the EU.

He said that during all the meetings with German officials he found them extraordinarily well informed on the situation in Serbia-Montenegro and that they showed great understanding for all the difficulties the country is dealing with.

The Serbian Prime Minister visited Dusseldorf today to meet with Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia Jurgen Ruttgers. Kostunica said after the meeting that Serbia cares much about promoting economic, political and cultural ties not only with the German federal state, but also with its provinces. This is the reason why we came here to Dusseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Kostunica said.

According to Kostunica, the visit to Germany’s most populated and industrially best developed province is logical, bearing in mind not only economic but also cultural importance of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Kostunica also spoke of connections between Serbia and Germany and added that the Serbian government wishes to further deepen those connections.

Ruttgers expressed his satisfaction because of the visit of the Serbian delegation and stressed that aside from political cooperation, it is important to establish good cooperation in the fields of economy, technology and services, adding that the government of this province will support those contacts in the future.

Ruttgers also expressed gratitude because companies from North Rhine-Westphalia interested in privatisation in Serbia will have support in Serbia.

Kostunica, who is on a two-day visit to Germany, today in Dusseldorf met with Minister of Economy, SMEs and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Christa Thoben.

The working lunch in honour of the Serbian Prime Minister was also attended by chief directors and businesspeople from Germany’s major companies, such as Henkel, Bayer, Metro, Vatz, Rurgas and others.

The Serbian delegation will visit Deutsche Bank, where a meeting will also be held with a Deutsche Telecom representative.

Serbian Minister of International Economic Relations Milan Parivodic, Serbian Minister of Economy Predrag Bubalo and Serbian Minister of Capital Investment Velimir Ilic, who are also in the Serbian government’s delegation, will speak with potential investors.