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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Russia’s stand on Kosovo-Metohija status issue unaltered

Belgrade/Moscow, 19 September 2007

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said today in Moscow that the Serbian delegation received assurance from Russian officials that Russia demands that the solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija must be sought through compromise and within the framework of the UN and Security Council.

Djelic said that it was confirmed that Russia will insist that the solution to the Kosovo issue should not be a unique case, and pointed to the fact that Serbia is under various kinds of pressure in the process of resolving the status of the southern province, therefore Russia’s support is extremely valuable.

Djelic held talks with co-president of the intergovernmental Russian-Serbian committee for economic, scientific and cultural cooperation and outgoing Russian Minister for Civil Defence and Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu and Envoy of the Russian President for the Central Federal District Georgy Poltavchenko.

Following the meeting Djelic said that Russian partners are not seeking any privileges, rather wish to have equal conditions for business and participation in the privatisation process in Serbia.

Highly valuing Russia’s support regarding Kosovo-Metohija, we will provide these conditions, said the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister.

Representative of the Russian President for relations with Serbia Georgy Poltavchenko said that Russia’s most significant comment regarding Kosovo-Metohija was made yesterday by Russia’s outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov who said that Russia’s position regarding Kosovo has not changed.

Russia considers that this issue should be resolved within the framework of international law while validating interests of both sides and with maximum effort to provide a normal negotiations process, so that common ground for a solution may be found and such a solution could be presented before the international community.

He added that if all participants in the process of seeking a solution for the future status of Kosovo-Metohja hold to the joint approach of the international community there will be less problems.

Our stand is based on the fact that there is a unified approach, and the solution must be universal, without creating any precedents which could lead to serious consequences, stressed Poltavchenko.

Co-president of the intergovernmental Russian-Serbian committee and outgoing Russian Minister for Civil Defence Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu said during the meeting with the Serbian delegation that the committee is working actively.

He stressed that in 2006 goods trade worth $2.5 billion was realised between Russia and Serbia, which could be well over $ 3 billion this year. He pointed to the fact that he is particularly pleased with the fact that the trade was not realised solely in the energy sector, but production and investment also increased.

Djelic conveyed greetings from Serbian President Boris Tadic and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to collocutors.