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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Mistreatment of Simic family attempt to displace Serbs from Kosovo

Belgrade, 8 January 2007

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today that mistreatment of the Simic family from the village Babin Most near Obilic is an attempt to displace Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija through shameless provocation.

Vojislav Kostunica

Following talks with members of the Simic family, Kostunica said that at a moment when it is expected that UN Special Envoy Marti Ahtisaari will soon present his draft solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, someone has once again decided to force Serbs to leave Kosovo-Metohija.

He stressed that the Serbian government will take all possible steps to provide adequate security to the Simic family, because they can not be protected by those who are mistreating them.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that those who ordered the frequent attacks on the Simic family and the search of their house must also be held accountable, and not just those individuals who took part in these shameless proceedings.

Kostunica criticised the international community because of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, and warned that events of March 17, 2004 must not be allowed to happen again.

He said that the persecution of the Simic family began a few days ago, without any justification, and continued through frequent attacks and search of their house. He recalled that the matter ended with the conclusion that the Simic family had nothing whatsoever to do with the murder of Kosovo Police Service (KPS) member Avni Kosumi.

He said that the Simic family, which consists of 30 members, has been a victim of mistreatment since 2000 at the hands of ethnic-Albanian separatists in Babin Most.

Kostunica stressed that between 40 to 50 police men of the KPS most brutally beat Srecko Simic. After that it was established that he had no connection with the murder of the KPS member.

He recalled that on January 6 he talked with Srecko’s cousin Slavisa, and convinced him to remain in Babin Most with his family.

Kostunica said that any assessment regarding the future status of Kosovo-Metohija must be made within the framework of the UN Charter.

The UN Charter guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity to all countries, said Kostunica commenting on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s remark regarding Kosovo-Metohija.

Kostunica reiterated that the UN Charter is the framework within which the future status of Kosovo-Metohija must be determined, and added that it provides no scope for independence.