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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Compromise solution for Kosovo must be found

Rome, 5 July 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in an interview for today's edition of the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera that the independence of Kosovo-Metohija would be an unwise solution for the southern Serbian province since it could bring about an outburst of violence in the Balkans.

Kostunica warned that if Kosovo is granted independence owing to fear of ethnic reactions, the opposite might very well happen – use of violence might be thus encouraged in other places as well.

He stressed that everyone should be aware that there are various ethnic minorities in the Balkans and announced that he will ask for Italy's assistance in preventing the dismemberment of Serbia.

After Rome, Kostunica is to visit Washington as part of a kind of Serbian government diplomatic offensive, which will include trips to Berlin, Paris, London and Moscow.

The Prime Minister said that his impression is that the complexity of the Kosovo issue is beginning to dawn on people throughout the world.

"During my visits so far, I have met with understanding, which is further proof that a compromise solution to Kosovo issue should be sought", stressed Kostunica.

Speaking about the conclusion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Kostunica said that the EU, who has temporarily "frozen" the negotiations with Serbia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) because of the Tribunal, should take the same approach to Serbia as it had done with Croatia.

"This means that talks on the SAA should resume, but the document should be signed only after the arrest and extradition of Ratko Mladic takes place", he explained.

"If we knew where Ratko Mladic was hiding, we would deliver him to the Tribunal immediately", Kostunica pointed out.

He also stressed that doubts concerning Serbia's honesty are unfounded, which is confirmed by his agreement with Brussels regarding cooperation of security services on the case of Mladic, as well as concerning the exchange of information.