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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia willing to make maximum effort to reach amicable solution for Kosovo-Metohija

Strasbourg, 4 October 2007

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today, in response to questions by the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), that Serbia is willing to continue negotiations on the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija for as long as is necessary to reach a compromise-based solution.

Jeremic said that Serbia is ready to do everything in order to reach an amicable solution and stressed that Europe must discourage any initiative which leans towards unilateral decisions, as well as decisions that could destabilise the region.

Responding to the question regarding the role of the Council of Europe (CoE) in resolving the Kosovo issue, the Foreign Minister, in his capacity as the Chairman of the CoE Committee of Ministers, said that this organisation has no mandate for negotiations on the future status of the southern Serbian province.

He said that the stand of the Committee of Ministers is that the CoE plays a unique role in resolving the issue by supporting the fundamental principles of rule of law, protection of human rights and democracy within the framework of UN SC Resolution 1244.

Jeremic specified that the CoE Mission which at a request by the OSCE will monitor elections in Kosovo-Metohija will consist of 130 observers, and the delegation will be led by former chairman of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Giovanni Di Stassi.

PACE President Rene van der Linden commended Serbia’s six month Presidency over the CoE Committee of Ministers which ends at the end of November.

He also stressed that this shows the incredible potential of this organisation which rests upon talent, vision and the capacities of every individual country.

Earlier today, Jeremic held talks with Rene van der Linden on the situation in Serbia and Kosovo-Metohija, as well results achieved during the Serbian Presidency over the CoE Committee of Ministers.