Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Resolution on Kosovo clear regarding defence of sovereignty, territorial integrity of Serbia

Belgrade, 15 February 2007

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said last night that the Resolution occasioned by US Secretary General’s Special Envoy Marti Ahtisaari’s “Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement”, which was adopted by Serbian parliament is more than clear regarding the defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

Kostunica told a press conference after the parliament session that the Resolution is completely clear on the point that the UN Charter and international law must be respected and that something which is the foundation of international law and is valid for the entire world, must also be valid for Serbia, and that is the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all existing states.

He reiterated that the UN Charter, international law and the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty form the framework within which solutions and possible compromises may be sought for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, adding that compromises outside this framework, which violate the UN Charter, are not possible.

The Serbian Prime Minister pointed to the fact that a dangerous precedent will be created by going down the wrong path, which is violation of the UN Charter and the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries.

Kostunica recalled that the Resolution was formally proposed by the government, and the text was drafted by the negotiating team in consultation with all parliamentary parties, so that it is a collective work which makes further negotiations on the status of Kosovo easier. These negotiations are not at all easy but are simple for Serbia because truth and justice are on our side, he said.

He said that the most important point is that in the Resolution and in the debate in Serbian parliament, it was confirmed once again that the mandate of UN Special Envoy Marti Ahtisaari was not to deal with the status of Serbia, but the status issue of Kosovo-Metohija inside Serbia, thus he has overstepped his mandate.

According to Kostunica, we can be satisfied with what has been done until now and with the work which the negotiating team had done most painstakingly, with assuredness and responsibility when it comes to the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

Commenting on the negotiating team for Belgrade, Kostunica said that the members of the team will not change because that is the most suitable solution, keeping in mind that the new government is yet to be formed.

The negotiating team will continue its work and with the mandate which it has received from Serbian parliament, until the formation of a new government when the members of the team might be changed according to circumstances, said Kostunica.

He expressed satisfaction with the fact that the Resolution was adopted with a large number of votes, stressed the Serbian Prime Minister, adding that this is strong support and with such support the negotiating team will face the upcoming negotiations in Vienna with equanimity.

Kostunica recalled that Serbian parliament adopted an equally important resolution on November 21, 2005, which the Serbian government used as a basis for several rounds of talks which were held in Vienna, as he put it, without much success but through no fault of our own.