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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Talks on new relations between UNMIK and Serbia continue

Belgrade, 24 March 2008

Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic said today that talks with UNMIK representatives on the proposal of an agreement to establish new relations between UNMIK and Serbia after the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo will be continued today.

In a statement to the Tanjug news agency, Samardzic said that the text of the agreement has been confirmed in consultation with the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a situation where Albanian institutions in Kosovo are violating UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and implementing their declaration of an independent Kosovo, and in a situation where Serbia and Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija still adhere to Resolution 1244, UNMIK must take up a position not only towards the Albanian side, but towards the Serbian side as well, Samardzic said.

He said that Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija do not accept the resolution on independence and they want to live a life which is in line with the Constitution and laws of Serbia. He stressed that this is the political will of Kosovo Serbs who have a right to it, even more so because of the violent breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 by Albanians.

UNMIK cannot remain neutral here. For relations between the Serbs and UNMIK to be regulated, there must be a new agreement between Serbia and UNMIK regulating those relations in accordance with Resolution 1244, said Samardzic.

He explained that the first part of the agreement is general and confirming Resolution 1244, whereas the second part of the agreement speaks of specific areas where Resolution 1244 should be implemented in order for Serbs to be able to live, to be responsible and for the framework of UNMIK’s jurisdictions to be upheld.

He added that the proposal also regulates the manner of implementing jurisdictions at local level through Serbian institutions, to which Serbs are loyal, and in line with Serbia’s presence in the area.

Serbia’s presence is seen in taking over some of the jurisdictions and implementing them together with UNMIK, the Minister said and added that specific parts will be worked on later if the two sides accept the framework agreement.