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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

International law is Serbia's main means of defending Kosovo

Belgrade, 23 April 2008

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica stated last night that signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU would be signing away Kosovo’s independence if Serbia did not have guarantees in place from the Union on its internationally recognised borders.

Vojislav Kostunica

In an interview with TV Studio B, Kostunica said that Serbia can defend Kosovo so long as it does not sign off on a document giving away part of its territory.

The Union must answer the question, within which borders it sees Serbia, Kostunica underlined.

Kostunica underlined that the 17 EU countries that recognised Kosovo's independence thus nullified Article 135 of SAA.

Kostunica also recalled that despite a long territorial dispute, Cyprus was granted EU membership as a whole entity and that Serbia expects nothing less for itself.

Asked whether continuation of negotiations with Kosovo Albanians is possible, Kostunica said that it can hardly be expected.

He also said that there is legal ground for initiating proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against countries that recognised Kosovo, primarily the US, and that international law and international public are Serbia's main means.

All legal means should be used, even stronger than those we have used, and there must be no compromise about it. The issue must remain open in public and litigation must be initiated before the ICJ, said Kostunica.

It is important that the Kosovo issue is not closed and noted that Serbia has a greater presence in Kosovo after February 17, he said.

According to Kostunica, apart from the EU’s position on Kosovo, the issue of the ICTY’s legitimacy is also questionable after this court acquitted former KLA commander Ramus Haradinaj.

All of a sudden you have a case of a villain who was set free returning to Kosovo. The question of the ICTY's legitimacy is then rightfully posed, Kostunica said.

He also said that the energy deal with Russia is undisputable and that it should be ratified in line with authorisations that the government and parliament have.

Under the new Constitution, parliament has the power to ratify the agreement, Kostunica said and warned that the country is losing a lot as the whole thing will be slowed down, and also its credibility in relations with other countries.