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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Belgrade should reconsider relations with EU if it comes to unilateral moves regarding Kosovo

Belgrade, 25 January 2008

Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic stated today that the US State Department’s plan for the declaration of independence for Kosovo is an example of how violence is used in international politics.

Slobodan Samardzic at today's press conference

At a press conference held on the occasion of the publication of a document by Slovene newspaper Dnevnik about the plan for a coordinated declaration of Kosovo-Metohija’s independence, Samardzic said this is illustrative of how a "great power" forces EU members to violate international law.

He pointed out that Serbia is a victim and must react incisively, adding that the EU accepted to be America’s means of achieving its interests, as did Slovenia, and it must accept its part in this role as well.

Speaking about the plan published in Dnevnik, the Minister explained that it comprises detailed tactics and actions aimed at acknowledging the independence of the southern Serbian province, as well as instructions for future behaviour and actions.

He also recalled that the Resolution of the National Assembly on Kosovo-Metohija is very clear and enables the Serbian government to react if the province’s independence is announced or declared.

Article 3 of this Resolution states that EU conclusions from December 14 are a breach of the normal relations between Serbia and the EU because they indicate the EU’s positive stance towards independence for Kosovo, stressed Samardzic and added that Belgrade should reconsider its relations with the EU in case it comes to unilateral moves.

He underlined that Belgrade should act within the National Assembly Resolution, but also take all options into account before acting. He pointed out that the Serbian government’s Action Plan in case of a unilateral declaration of the province’s independence has been prepared and will come into effect if the need arises.

He also said that by signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, Serbia will lose the support of those EU members that oppose the province’s independence.

According to Samardzic, the only chance for Serbia, as well as for those in the EU who support it, is to say that the SAA is unacceptable under these terms, otherwise the countries supporting Serbia will have no reason to continue doing so.

The signing of the SAA between Serbia and the EU is part of the US scenario and for them announcing the independence of Kosovo-Metohija is an important element, said Samardzic.

The SAA, he said, has become part of this game in an inappropriate manner and it is important that individual members of the government and the Serbian President, above all, insist that this situation should be made clear and the signing postponed since it has gained a different meaning.

The Minister considers that the SAA has lost its function of founding friendly and integrated relations between Serbia and the EU, from the perspective of Serbia entering the EU.

Now it is obvious that no body in Serbia can sign the SAA until the government makes certain decisions relating to the implementation of decrees from the Resolution adopted by the Serbian parliament, which very clearly obliges the government to make sure that the EU states the situation regarding the sending of an EU mission to Kosovo-Metohija.

If an EU mission is sent to the province by force, it would mean that the EU has violated the most important decrees of the SAA, which acknowledge Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in the preamble of the agreement, in Article 135, said Samardzic.

According to Samardzic, in that case the Serbian government would be obliged to annul that agreement and declare it invalid, and make a recommendation to parliament not to ratify it.