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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Problems in Balkans must not be resolved by threats

Berlin, 10 December 2007

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic gave an interview for today’s edition of German daily Handelsblat and said that a compromised solution must be found for the status of Kosovo-Metohija as otherwise there is a threat of opening a Pandora’s box, which will have unforeseeable consequences.

Djelic noted that problems in the Balkans must not be resolved through threats and violence but through talks as the former will lead to further violence in the region.

As for how Serbia will react in case the United States and the EU recognise unilateral independence of Kosovo-Metohija, the Deputy Prime Minister asked how Berlin would react if, for instance, someone recognised the independence of Bavaria.

We clearly stated that under no conditions will we resort to force, as well as that we will not give up our EU perspective; however, if some countries do acknowledge an unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, we will have to reconsider our relations with them, said Djelic.

He added that Albanian threats that they will use force in case their wishes are not fulfilled is a trick because Kosovo Albanians are completely dependant on the political support of the United States and economic assistance of Germany and the EU.

According to Djelic, Russia has the proper stance in resolving the Kosovo issue, even though that stance is not pro-Serbian but simply principled and requesting a compromise because Moscow is not exerting pressure on either side.

Djelic stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is right in striving to set up Serbian-Russian relations on a market and economic basis. We want the gas pipe line through Serbia just as Germany would want it. That would give us stability and transit income, the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Speaking on the connection of business and solution of the future status of Kosovo, Djelic said that these two things are not closely intertwined as one might think.

He recalled that one of the largest foreign investments in Serbia came from US General Motors and added that the United States do not really appreciate Serbia’s position on Kosovo. Djelic stressed that Belgrade is not ready to make any kind of concession on its EU road and added that it would be logical for Serbia to become EU member in 2014.

Asked whether a possible decision of the EU to acknowledge independence of Kosovo would halt Serbia’s EU integration, he responded that Serbia does not want to bring its European future into question.

The EU membership is Serbia’s strategic goal and one must not forget we are the most successful country of Southeast Europe, Djelic concluded and pointed out that Serbia’s EU accession is in the interest of Europe and the whole West.