Q:
A:
Special guarantees and safety for Serbs in Kosovo necessary
Belgrade,
3 September 2004
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica met today with representatives of the international Contact Group, who visited Belgrade and Pristina after their meeting in Berlin. Kostunica and members of the Contact Group had a long and open discussion on current problems in Kosovo-Metohija.
Members of the Contact Group explained their view of the current situation in the province, especially issues relating to security of Serbs and repairing the damage from the March pogrom. They said that the process of decentralisation is an opportunity for Serbs to enter Kosovo’s institutions and called on them to take part in parliamentary election in the province slated for October.
Kostunica stressed that Kosovo-Metohija is neither a homogenous or normal society on which common standards of democracy and local self-government could be applied. On the contrary, it is a multiethnic society, in which one community, the Serb, is deprived of basic human and minority rights and safety conditions. Therefore, such a province requires a higher level of institutional protection in the process of decentralisation. Only the special guarantees for Serbs would open the possibility of their participation in the Kosovo institutions and the upcoming election.
The officials agreed at the meeting that the Contact Group continue dialogue on these issues this month. The dialogue should gather all interested parties - representatives of the UNMIK, the interim institutions, Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade.
Kostunica concluded that the granting of institutional guarantees to Serbs, as envisaged by the government's Plan for Kosovo, would create an atmosphere of greater trust among Serbs and encourage them to go to the polls and take part in the work of Kosovo institutions.
Kostunica stressed that Kosovo-Metohija is neither a homogenous or normal society on which common standards of democracy and local self-government could be applied. On the contrary, it is a multiethnic society, in which one community, the Serb, is deprived of basic human and minority rights and safety conditions. Therefore, such a province requires a higher level of institutional protection in the process of decentralisation. Only the special guarantees for Serbs would open the possibility of their participation in the Kosovo institutions and the upcoming election.
The officials agreed at the meeting that the Contact Group continue dialogue on these issues this month. The dialogue should gather all interested parties - representatives of the UNMIK, the interim institutions, Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade.
Kostunica concluded that the granting of institutional guarantees to Serbs, as envisaged by the government's Plan for Kosovo, would create an atmosphere of greater trust among Serbs and encourage them to go to the polls and take part in the work of Kosovo institutions.
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