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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Issue of Kosovo-Metohija must be solved according to international law

Belgrade, 17 November 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik said today that the issue of Kosovo-Metohija must be solved in accordance with international law and through a compromise between Belgrade and Pristina.

From left: Milan Jelic, Vojislav Kostunica and Milorad Dodik at today's press conference

Kostunica told a press conference following talks with Dodik and President of Republika Srpska Milan Jelic, that he is certain a way will be found to reach a compromise solution which will mean that Kosovo-Metohija is part of Serbia and has substantial autonomy within Serbian borders.

He stressed that multiethnicity is a political ideal and the Serbian government does not see why Serbs and ethnic-Albanians cannot continue living together when they have done so for centuries. He added that Serbia never rejected the possibility of coexisting with ethnic-Albanians.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that Serbia is only asking that her territorial integrity and sovereignty be respected, while substantial autonomy is guaranteed to Kosovo-Metohija.

He stressed that he “doesn’t want, neither can believe” that the Security Council, the UN and the Contact Group can be ignored and Kosovo-Metohija be declared independent unilaterally.

I simply do not wish to believe that and am certain that a way will be found which can lead us in the direction of a compromise solution, reiterated Kostunica and recalled that the Serbian government’s platform offers substantial autonomy to the province, which is the highest degree of autonomy.

Dodik said that people in Republika Srpska are very interested in the issue of Kosovo-Metohija and stressed that Serbia has a legal and legitimate position regarding Kosovo-Metohija.

He once more voiced support for finding an acceptable solution for Kosovo-Metohija while respecting international law and pointed to the fact that the problem should be solved by reaching a solution acceptable to all through agreement reached between the Serbian government and other participants in the negotiating process.

Kostunica, Jelic and Dodik said at the joint press conference that in December the Council for Cooperation between Republika Srpska and Serbia will hold a meeting, where the main subject of discussion will be cooperation in the energy sector.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that today’s meeting with officials from Republika Srpska was very important, considering the fact that Republika Srpska is gaining stable and strong institutions after elections, which is very important for stability in the region, while Serbia has recently adopted the Constitution.

The delegation from Republika Srpska which met with the Serbian Prime Minister also included Ministers of Finance Aleksandar Dzombic, Minister of Health and Social Protection Racko Skrbic, Minister of Transport and Communications Nedeljko Cubriolovic and Minister of Education and Culture Anton Kasipovic.