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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Russia resolutely opposes Kosovo independence

Belgrade, 25 February 2008

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated today in Belgrade following a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that Russia will firmly advocate the stance that Serbia is an indivisible state with Kosovo within its borders.

Our stance is that Serbia is an indivisible state whose jurisdiction extends to the whole of its territory and we will stick to this principled stance, said Medvedev in a joint address to the press following the meeting with Kostunica.

He stressed that the aim of his brief visit is to show support to Serbia at a time when the illegally declared unilateral independence of Kosovo-Metohija is being recognised.

Medvedev emphasised that Moscow thinks the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo violates Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reiterated that it is not in accordance with principles of international law, Resolution 1244, the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.

According to him, the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo ruins the international security system and system of international law that humankind has been building for over 100 years.

He warned that the situation in the southern Serbian province has become very complex after the declaration of independence and pointed to the negative consequences it may have on other regions in Europe and throughout the world.

We reached an agreement to jointly coordinate our efforts once this complicated situation is over, Medvedev said.

Following the meeting, Kostunica stated that he agreed with Medvedev that Serbia and Russia should continue with their principled joint policy when it comes to defending Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He explained that for Serbia, there is no fictitious state of Kosovo on its territory, and added that all illegal decisions regarding the establishment of the so-called independent state of Kosovo have been annulled.

According to him, Serbia will do everything to enforce its jurisdiction and prerogatives in Kosovo for the sake of all loyal citizens, Serbs and other non-Albanians. The Serbian Prime Minister said that Serbia, together with Russia and all other states which want to respect the fundamental principles of international law, and not violate them, will fight in the UN Security Council for the annulment of this decision. I am convinced that there can be no stabilisation and in the region and the world until this decision is declared null and void, Kostunica said and underlined that there can be no normalisation of relations with the countries that recognised the unilateral independence of Kosovo either until this decision is declared null and void. Serbia is encouraged by one entire movement in the world to defend the fundamental principles of international law, first of all, respect for the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the existing states, the Prime Minister said and added that many organisations and distinguished individuals in the world and a large number of Serbs from the Diaspora are protesting against the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo. The Serbian Prime Minster stressed that protests in Serbia and the world will not stop until the illegal decision of the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo is declared null and void. Kostunica expressed gratitude to Moscow, first and foremost to Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the support it gives Serbia in this matter.