Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Belgrade ready to resume talks on Kosovo

Belgrade/Bon, 23 September 2008

Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said he believes that Serbia’s resolution, asking the International Court of Justice for opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence, will be adopted at the UN General Assembly and that talks on the province will afterwards resume.

In a statement to the radio Deutsche Welle, Bogdanovic said he believes that Serbia’s resolution will be adopted and that a clear message will thus be sent to all countries which recognised the province’s independence that they have made a wrong step.

Belgrade is ready for new talks, but they must end with both sides getting something, and not with one getting everything and the other coming out empty-handed, said the Minister adding that Serbia is interested in status-related and technical issues, as well as living problems of people in the province.

We must find a way to make institutions available to all. There are now even more endangered ethnic communities in the province, which is why we must reach a compromise so that no one feels threatened any more, he explained.

Speaking about Serbia’s efforts to harmonise the text of the resolution on Kosovo-Metohija, Bogdanovic said that the policy towards the southern province should be the point of agreement among parties, with the respect of differences in their platforms, and not a resolution of one party, one coalition or ministry.

That is why the government’s proposed resolution has been withdrawn. It is our wish to have as broad a consensus as possible when it comes to the issue of Kosovo-Metohija, because apart from EU integration, this issue is of supreme national importance, he said.

Bogdanovic stressed that the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija does not have any contacts with Brussels or self-government organs in Pristina, but that Serbs in Kosovo are asking for a solution to be found whenever they talk with UNMIK representatives.

We do not cooperate with the EULEX and that mission will be unacceptable for us until it gets Serbia’s consent and legitimacy through the UN Security Council. On the other hand, we intensified talks with UNMIK, who, being a legitimate organ of the international community, is entitled to solve everyday problems of the Serbian community in the province, said Bogdanovic.

As for Pristina, he said it is unrealistic to expect cooperation with the government or parliament that seized a portion of Serbia’s territory and declared unilateral independence.