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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

International community obliged to protect Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians

Belgrade/Vienna, 17 July 2008

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic said today in Vienna that Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation of independence has created many security problems and that the international community is obliged to protect Kosovo Serbs and other minorities.

Ivica Dacic

Addressing reporters at the ministerial meeting of the Salzburg Forum “Security in the West Balkans”, Dacic said that Serbia will do everything to maintain peace in Kosovo-Metohija, but it also requests from international peacekeeping forces in Kosovo to protect Serbs and other non-Albanians in the province because that is the international community’s obligation.

He warned that the greatest part of illegal trade in narcotics, people and arms in Europe goes through Kosovo-Metohija, and explained that there can be no peace and stability in this part of Europe without the cooperation of police and security forces of all countries, regardless of the differences concerning Kosovo’s status.

The fight against crime and corruption is one of the main goals of the new government. That fight requires the cooperation of police forces in the region, Dacic said and added that more agreements on police cooperation with countries in the region will be signed soon.

At the same time, he underlined that Serbia will fulfil all its obligations towards the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY); although it believes that that tribunal is biased.

Serbia has many objections to the work of the ICTY because it believes it is biased and that was proved by the acquittals of Ramus Haradinaj and Naser Oric, Dacic said and added that despite that, Serbia will fulfil its international obligations.

Dacic said that there must be no obstacles to cross-border police cooperation and announced that the delegation of the Ministry of Interior will present their view on the need for establishing tighter and improved organised cooperation of police forces of the countries of southeastern Europe.

Participants at the meeting will discuss police cooperation between countries of central and southeastern Europe, especially in the field of prevention and suppression of organised crime and terrorism.