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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Necessary to provide economic conditions for Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija to exist

Belgrade, 20 February 2008

Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo said today that the fight to keep Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia’s borders makes sense and this can be done only if Serbs remain in the province, which is why it is necessary to provide the economic conditions for their existence there.

Bubalo announced that Serbia is entering a new phase of the battle to defend and keep Kosovo-Metohija within the territorial borders of Serbia, which will not only mean a political battle, but also a large number of court proceedings and arbitration processes before international institutions.

He announced the initiation of legal proceedings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague against countries that recognise the illegal and self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo as well as the initiation of proceedings before international organs with responsibility in the areas of economy, protection of rights of the state, citizens, the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), and Serbian companies.

Bubalo said that Serbian institutions will have to work more agilely in all segments, especially healthcare, education and market inspection and other public inspection bodies.

Public companies, such as power provider Elektroprivreda Srbije, telecommunications provider Telekom, postal company PTT Srbija, will have to strengthen ties with companies from that sector, he said and noted that it is necessary to create new jobs and open facilities in Serb enclaves and locations in the province where Serbs are in the majority.

Asked what will happen with to the property of nearly 300,000 Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija exiled since June 1999 whose value is estimated at around $4 billion, Bubalo replied that the value of property held by Serbia and Serbian citizens in the province is huge.

According to Bubalo, the value of direct investments, investments through the Serbian Development Fund, SPC property, property of exiled citizens as well as natural resources ranges from $200 billion to $400 billion.

Bubalo also mentioned the long-standing process of illegal privatisation in Kosovo-Metohija as well as the seizing of investments from Serbian companies in the province.

Top priority at this moment is to provide safety for Serbs who remained in Kosovo-Metohija and to provide for their economic existence, Bubalo stressed noting that all needs to be done for those exiled to return.

He said that agricultural machinery will be donated to the local population and promised that the Serbian Commodity Reserve Directorate will buy up wheat, corn, barley from farmers in Kosovo-Metohija.

Appearing on Radio Television Serbia, Bubalo also used the occasion to invite citizens to gather on February 21 at 5 pm in a mass protest in front of the House of Parliament in Belgrade to give their support to the fight to keep Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia.