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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Kosovo-Metohija will never be object of trade for Serbia

Belgrade/Moscow, 24 September 2007

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said in an interview today to the Russian daily Kommersant, prior to the departure of the Serbian delegation from Moscow that Kosovo-Metohija will never become an object of trade for Serbia and Serbia will never accept independence for the province.

Bozidar Djelic

Author: Fonet

The Serbian government’s official website presents excerpts of the interview.

Could Serbia’s firm stand on the Kosovo issue interfere with its EU integration?

No. Kosovo-Metohija and our intention to join the EU are two completely separate processes. In Europe too it is understood very well that it would be counterproductive to link these two processes. Firstly, we will never make Kosovo-Metohija an object of trade and will never accept its independence. Secondly, that could disrupt democratic reforms in Serbia. Serbia’s stand upon the question of Kosovo-Metohija is the stand of a normal democratic country which wishes to defend its territorial integrity, since half of our population of 7 million is connected to Kosovo-Metohija.

What will Belgrade do if authorities in Kosovo declare independence in December and the West recognises it?

We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening. But, if it happens we will never recognise the independence of Kosovo-Metohija. Besides, we will reexamine relations with any country which unilaterally recognises its independence.

How is Russia’s role in the process of resolving this issue looked upon in Serbia?

The principled stand of Russian politicians is very important for us and we appreciate it very much. Russia’s prestige in Serbia was always very high, and the rating of President Putin is only slightly less than for any of our own politicians. He is certainly the most popular foreign politician in Serbia.

Is NATO membership one of Belgrade’s foreign policy aims? As everyone in Russia remembers well, in 1999, NATO took military action against Serbia. No one can forget that. NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer also supported Ahtisaari’s plan for giving independence to Kosovo-Metohija. That is why it is perfectly normal that people in Serbia do not like the NATO. Regardless however, we in Serbia, as in Russia, are working towards having close relations with NATO in the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme. At the NATO summit which will be held on April 1, 2008 in Bucharest, Croatia, Macedonia and Albania should join the alliance. That means only Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in the Balkans will remain outside NATO. All these questions need to be resolved through a referendum, and if such a referendum were to be held today in Serbia, only a maximum of 20% Serbs would vote in favour of joining the NATO.

Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal:

There is no doubt that we will give full cooperation also in the future since that is an organ of the UN. That means we must arrest and hand over all indictees, including Ratko Mladic.

Serbia’s relations with Moscow:

It is sufficient to present only a few facts in this matter. Russian Lukoil is one of the largest investors in Serbian economy. The company has had certain problems in Serbia, but we met with Vagit Alekperov in Moscow and discussed all issues. As of now we will meet with him every three months. On the other hand, this year Russian companies took part in the privatisation process for Serbia’s largest tourism company Putnik and energy company Termoelektro. Similarly, Russians are also part of the reconstruction process of the Djerdap hydroelectric power plant.

Regarding Russian capital in privatisation of giants of Serbian economy such as RTB Bor and Jat Airways:

The airline company will be privatised in the summer, and the tender for RTB Bor will be announced at the end of August and the Russian corporation Bazni Element is interested in it. There is also one more arrangement, and that is privatisation of the largest producer of aviation hydraulics and cars “Prva Petoletka” but thus far Rosoboroneksport has not come up with a proposal for purchase. Still, the Serbian government will do everything so that this giant of our industry enters into Russian economy. It is planned that one of the Serbian state banks will be privatised and it is hoped that Russian banks are able to participate in that process.

How realistic is the realisation of Serbian gas projects with participation by Russian capital?

In December last year we signed a memorandum of understanding connected with the gas pipeline Plavi Potok 2. Possibilities still exist and there will be no discrimination against Russian capital. Russian companies do not need special privileges, it is just necessary that there is no discrimination. Keeping in mind the principled nature of our relations, it could be said that Russian businesspeople will be among the first to be treated equally. We wish to have a share in creating Sochi 2014. We have a few excellent building companies which have experience in work in the Russian market. The Company Putevi Uzice signed a contract for building part of the road in Sochi, but we hope that this is just the beginning and there will be more such contracts in the future.