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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Important that people elect government committed to nation-building

Belgrade, 22 March 2008

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that the upcoming parliamentary elections are very important because they will show if Serbia is going to get a responsible government committed to the nation and nation-building or a government which will be ready to put aside the defence of the country’s territorial integrity and give priority to EU membership.

Vojislav Kostunica

In an interview for tomorrow’s edition of the daily Vecernje Novosti, Kostunica stressed that it is extremely important whether the people will choose a government committed to nation-building or one which will say “Let us get into Europe and later as part of that Europe fight for Kosovo, which we are so ready to give up”.

He said that he is waiting for the May 11 elections with the deep conviction that the Serbian people will vote for a responsible government committed to nation-building and the nation.

Four interconnected aims of that new government will be to keep Kosovo within Serbia, joining the EU with the country’s territorial integrity intact, continued economic growth and a better living standard, as well as an uncompromising fight against corruption and crime, said the Prime Minister.

Kostunica said that the previously formed government lost reason to exist when it ceased to be responsible and committed to the nation and the concept of statehood at a crucial moment, and added that it is not enough to repeat the sentence that we will never recognise Kosovo and that for Serbia there is no alternative but Europe.

Commenting on the possibility that he might be elected to the post of prime minister for the third time, he recalled that he was once in office as president and twice as prime minister.

I voluntarily stepped down twice, said Kostunica and added that he always upheld the principle of taking responsibility if that means adoption of policies which serve the interests of the country and the nation.

In any case, I have defended Kosovo through all these years, and not just as the prime minister. I will continue this fight, regardless of what is my role, said the Serbian Prime Minister.

Speaking on relations with the EU, he stressed that all parliamentary parties have made it clear that they are in favour of European integration.

We are in favour of cooperation with the EU, for economic and comprehensive relations with the EU, and the continuation of integration. And precisely due to that we must begin a serious dialogue with the EU. We must make clear one simple question: Does Brussels see Serbia as a country with its internationally recognised borders, including its southern province of Kosovo-Metohija, or not, said Kostunica.

According to Kostunica, each Stabilisation and Association Agreement which the EU signed with countries that joined it included a clear decree on respect of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and the internationally recognised borders of these countries.

He said that the reason for clearing this matter through talks with Brussels, before going any further, is that major EU countries have recognised the fictitious state of Kosovo, while some other EU countries are saying that they will never recognise the independence of the province.

No matter how much pressure is put by the US on countries to recognise Kosovo, it is obvious that truth is stronger than all lies and manipulation, and the court of the people is most important, said the Serbian Prime Minister.

Kostunica recalled that at the moment more than 150 countries do not recognise Kosovo, and a serious debate is going on throughout the world about the creation of such phantom entities, and independent and competent experts on international law are pointing at the dangers of this precedent.

Speaking about March 17 and the violence in Kosovo-Metohija, he said that it was orchestrated and the violence was provoked by the international forces.

The reaction of someone who is aware of the actual situation on the ground, such as regional coordinator of UNMIK Gerard Gallucci, who has submitted his resignation, as well as his analysis of the clashes in Kosovksa Mitrovica, best show the background of this new March 17, said Kostunica.

When the proponents of independence for Kosovo realised that Serbia’s fight against the fictitious state will not end with the sentence – Serbia will never recognise the independence of Kosovo – they resorted to the use of force, said the Serbian Prime Minister.