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

Government adopts Initiative for beginning new phase of negotiations on Kosovo-Metohija status

Belgrade, 25 May 2007

The Serbian government adopted at its session today the, “Initiative of the Republic of Serbia for beginning a new phase of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija,” and forwarded it to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The text of the Initiative directed to the UN Secretary General in entirety reads:

“Starting with the generally accepted fact that negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija, which were conducted from February 21, 2006 to March 10, 2007, did not lead to a proposal for a solution based on agreement,

Keeping in mind the content of the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, which was submitted to the UN Secretary General by Special Envoy for negotiations Marti Ahtisaari, as well as the fact that the content is absolutely unacceptable for Serbia, which is reflected in the clear stand of the state organs of Serbia and in the large number of amendments made by the Serbian negotiating team on the Comprehensive Proposal,

Keeping in mind also the essential objections made by Serbia to the manner of conducting these negotiations which was an important reason for their failure,

Turning the attention of all UN members and the international community towards the clear intentional outcome of the Comprehensive Proposal in view of the violation of the UN Charter and related Security Council resolutions (1160, 1199, 1203 from 1998 and 1239 and 1244 from 1999) by proposing granting of independent status to a province within the borders of Serbia, a democratic internationally recognised state and UN member,

Calling upon all international participants to contribute to a peaceful, lasting, viable and comprehensive solution for the Kosovo-Metohija issue based on the principles, norms and good traditions of international law on which today’s international order rests,

The Serbian government presents the initiative for beginning a new phase of negotiations between representatives of Serbia and representatives of the interim organs of self-government in Kosovo-Metohija.

The main aim of the new phase of negotiations is to reach a solution based on agreement for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija between the sides involved.

Such a solution, with international mediation, would guarantee long-term stability and become a condition for the economic and social development of the region.

In order to reach this goal it is necessary to create a positive atmosphere for negotiations, and present suitable procedure and provide an adequate time framework without imposing artificial deadlines.

In presenting this initiative, aware of the historical importance of a just solution to the problem, the Serbian government is to the greatest degree willing to take responsibility for the successful course and conclusion of negotiations”.