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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia must demonstrate a unified state, national policy in defending Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade, 14 February 2008

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica stated today that Serbia is in danger and that all efforts must be focused on the timely adoption of crucial and historic decisions which Serbia will once and for all annul all acts by Albanian separatists and affirm that the province of Kosovo-Metohija is a constituent and unalienable part of Serbia.

In an interview for today’s edition of the dailies Glas Javnosti and Kurir, Kostunica stressed that now there is an actual threat that the province will declare unilateral independence under the leadership of condemned terrorists and the open guidance of the US and the EU, it is necessary and most important to leave aside all differences, and that Serbia demonstrates a unified state and national policy in defending Kosovo.

It would be unforgivable if state institutions did not function while a puppet state is being created on Serbia’s territory. Serbia is in danger and we must direct all our efforts towards the timely adoption of crucial and historic decisions through which we will once and for all annul all acts of Albanian separatists and affirm that the province of Kosovo-Metohija is a constituent and unalienable part of Serbia.

The Serbian government’s official web site gives parts of the interview.

At its next session, the government is to adopt the “Decision to annul all illegal acts of Kosovo-Metohija’s interim self-governing organs pertaining to the declaration of unilateral impendence”. What will that decision comprise of? Will you announce it yourself and how long after Pristina takes these illegal steps?

On February 14 the government will adopt this decision and forward it to Serbian parliament. I will address the press conference after the government session and speak about this decision.

When will the government determine the text of the decision on Serbia’s lawsuit against states which acknowledge Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence?

We are constantly working on all the necessary measures. The declaration of a puppet state on Serbian soil will be the downfall of the UN Charter, Resolution 1244 and international law on which European and world order are based. It is crucial that Serbia perseveres with its respect for international law because that will be our foothold from which we will be able to maintain that Kosovo is ours, just as it says in the UN Charter and the Serbian Constitution. This is why Serbia categorically refused to be an accomplice and to justify, with its signature, this legal violence which has never happened since the formation of the UN. The greatest humiliation for Serbia would be to give even indirect consent to the existence of this puppet entity on its territory.

When will the government activate this secret action plan in case of a unilateral declaration of Kosovo-Metohija’s independence – the moment Pristina takes that step or when the leading western countries support it? Will it be activated in full or partially, depending on how the situation develops?

The point of the government’s work is to annul all illegal decisions and to ensure normal living conditions for Serbs and all loyal citizens in the province as much as it can because these are Serbian citizens with full and equal rights, their government and parliament are in Belgrade and they must know that. That is why it is extremely important for them to remain in their homes because Kosovo is Serbia and the Serbian government will do all it can to ensure a normal life for our people in the province.

The work of the state leadership was unblocked at the last minute. Are there any grounds to fear that the discord within the coalition in power will reappear as soon as another major problem arises?

The entire nation is aware that this is a historic moment and we must be united. Kosovo is extremely important and this also concerns Serbia’s future and its survival, because there has never been a nation or a state that gave up the most precious part of their homeland. This is why we must leave aside our differences on other issues. For every state, and by that I am also referring to the EU members, their first and foremost principle is the preservation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Serbia would be the first state in history to change this unalterable rule. Every nation and every state has this principle defined in their constitutions. Any other idea or alleged dilemma is but an experiment which has so far appeared only in Serbia.

Is it possible to join the EU and preserve Kosovo-Metohija and Serbia’s borders?

That is our unified state policy.

Is it possible for Serbia to be left without both Kosovo and the EU and that it finds itself in a cold war with the US, which Branko Milanovic wrote about several days ago?

Kosovo belongs solely and only to Serbia, therefore Serbia will never remain without it. As for EU integration, there is a simple truth there – Serbia is not in Asia, or South America, but in the heart of Europe, Serbia belongs to Europe and that cannot be changed. I am convinced that all state institutions have in recent years led a huge and important battle for Kosovo which we won because we prevented the Security Council from declaring Kosovo independent. If the US and the EU are convinced that they can take away Serbia’s territory with their policy of force, let them do it. According to the UN Charter, Resolution 1244 and the Serbian Constitution, Kosovo is ours and we will never give it to anyone.

Unlike many in Belgrade who still accuse “certain influential western circles”, you publicly declared that the US is behind the project of “independent Kosovo”. What provoked you to say that and isn’t it a little too late for that?

I never strained relations with any country. On the contrary, it is other countries including the US that really strained relations against Serbia the moment they began to actively participate in the creation of a puppet state on our territory. To say that Serbia’s response was aimed at making the relations tenser is not true. We demand and will always demand respect for the UN Charter and Resolution 1244.

How should Serbia react if Brussels threatens to forbid it to enter the EU, and Washington makes threats of new sanctions until Serbia acknowledges independent Kosovo?

The idea of punishing Serbia because it is defending its Constitution and the UN Charter would be the beginning of a completely new era in international relations. The principle of force would thus formally become the legitimate and prevailing principle for solving all problems in the modern world.

By focusing both on the EU and Russia, has Serbia improved its geo-strategic position? How will the construction of the gas pipe line improve our position among other countries?

The energy agreement with Russia is of far-reaching and multi-faceted importance, including geo-strategic. First, there are economic reasons, naturally, and in the days ahead of us we will see that this is extremely beneficial for our economy and all our citizens. The agreement will enable huge investment, which is the basis for even greater development of the Serbian economy. The Serbian and Russian governments are extremely satisfied with the agreement and are working intensively on its implementation.

You government clamped down on a dozen or so different criminal groups, you firmly insist that Serbia retains Kosovo, but also advocate military neutrality, but some still present you as a soft and indecisive politician and man. How do you see yourself?

The key things in politics are principles, and my principle is to put state and national interests above all else. While I am performing a public function, my only interest is the interest of Serbia. I will never give up on these principles and that is most important for me. It is irrelevant how others see me.

When you appeared at the election station last Sunday afternoon, the percentage of people who went to vote increased. Serbia trusts you, how will you justify this trust?

Everything I did, I did it before the eyes of the people and I am always prepared to be held responsible for my actions.

Your two governments began eliminating organised crime. How will Interior Minister Jocic’s injury affect that? When will he resume his duties?

Minister Jocic has achieved exceptional results in fighting all forms of crime that none of his counterparts in the region and beyond can boast of. He has a strong personality, excellent authority in the Ministry which strikes blows against mafia on a daily basis. I am convinced everything will fall into place.