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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

New Kosovo talks must be held in line with Resolution 1244

Belgrade/Lisbon, 16 July 2007

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today in Lisbon after the meeting with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates that the new draft resolution of the Security Council on Kosovo is unacceptable for Serbia and that new talks should be held in line with Resolution 1244.

Vojislav Kostunica, left, and Jose Socrates

Author: Tanjug

Kostunica underlined that the talks should not be conditioned and determined in advance and that is why it is best to start on the basis of Resolution 1244 - it is line with the UN Charter and the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty.

If we start off with a new draft resolution that is based on principles from Ahtisaari's plan, which were not confirmed either by the Security Council or the Contact Group, which has an already determined solution, and that is independence, we will not achieve anything that will bring us closer to a sensible, stable and sustainable solution, the Serbian Prime Minister explained.

It is easy to reach an agreement if we look for a compromise, a solution that will be good for both Belgrade and Pristina. Kostunica warned that possible independence for Kosovo-Metohija would be a dangerous precedent for many other countries, not only in the region, but beyond as well, adding that claims that Kosovo is a unique case which could not be "repeated" in other parts of the world are nonsense.

They are already some countries in the world which think they will get some gain from Kosovo's independence and that is why independence must be absolutely prevented by legal means - the UN Charter, the Prime Minister stressed and reiterated that Serbia will not accept that 15% of its territory be snatched away.

Speaking about European integration of Serbia, Kostunica said that Serbia is more than ready to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, but there is one condition which refers only to Serbia and that cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

Serbia is working hard to bring all war indictees before the tribunal, Kostunica said.

Before meeting with Sócrates, Kostunica met with Chairman of Portuguese Parliament Jaime Gama and representatives of parliamentary parties, and told them that the new draft of the resolution on Kosovo-Metohija prepared by the United States and the EU is unacceptable for Serbia in such a form.

Kostunica explained during the meeting in Portuguese parliament that the new draft of the UN Security Council resolution is unacceptable for Serbia as it represents introduction to Kosovo’s independence.

Representatives of caucuses in the Portuguese parliament supported the position of the Serbian Prime Minister that Kosovo-Metohija must not be violently and one-sidedly taken from Serbia.

During the talks, it was said that Serbia must not be humiliated again and that borders of a sovereign European state cannot be altered.

The Serbian Prime Minister will end his visit to Portugal with a meeting with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva.

Kostunica is accompanied by Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic, advisor for foreign policy Vladeta Jankovic and Serbian Ambassador to Lisbon Dusko Lopandic.

The Serbian Prime Minister will travel to Berlin on Tuesday, July 17, where he will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier.