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Macedonia, Montenegro’s decision to destabilise region
Belgrade,
11 October 2008
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic said that Macedonia and Montenegro’s decision to recognise Kosovo’s independence will mostly affect these very countries.
In an interview to the FoNet news agency, Dacic said that Montenegro and Macedonia have thus legalised the possibility that a portion of their territory, inhabited by Albanian population, may one day get independence.
He noted that such act on behalf of Podgorica will most certainly harm the good relations between the Serbian and Montenegrin people because for the first time in history Montenegro has made a move directed against Serbia.
Having emphasised that Montenegro and Macedonia’s decisions will affect the entire region, Dacic warned that the decisions are dangerous since they will cause an alteration of borders in the Balkans and consequently in Europe, which has always had serious consequences in the past.
They were made and planned in advance in order to buffer Serbia’s impact on those advocating Kosovo’s independence caused by Serbia’s triumph at the UN General Assembly.
It is unfortunate that Montenegro and Macedonia turned out to be the ones who took upon themselves such actions, said Dacic.
He announced that Serbia will take all measures to clearly state its stance on the province’s recognition, but will not do anything that would fire back on it, nor will its actions harm Montenegrin citizens of Serbian origin.
We will continue talks on dual citizenship we began with Montenegro. Bearing in mind that the deadline for signing the agreement expires this month, we will make sure that citizens who got Serbian citizenship do not lose the Montenegrin one in the process, said Dacic and added that regardless of the decision by the Montenegrin government, the goal is to reach an agreement on dual citizenship.
He stressed that the Ministry of Interior can proudly say that it has fulfilled its part of the task on Serbia’s road to the EU and will do everything it takes to liberalise the visa regime by next year.
However, the rest of the road depends on a number of political reasons, as well as the conclusion of cooperation with the Hague tribunal, said Dacic.
As far as the Ministry of Interior is concerned, Serbia will fulfil its international obligations, stressed Dacic and added that due to possible political tensions, it will be best if Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic surrender voluntarily, as that is the best way to cooperate with the tribunal.
He noted that such act on behalf of Podgorica will most certainly harm the good relations between the Serbian and Montenegrin people because for the first time in history Montenegro has made a move directed against Serbia.
Having emphasised that Montenegro and Macedonia’s decisions will affect the entire region, Dacic warned that the decisions are dangerous since they will cause an alteration of borders in the Balkans and consequently in Europe, which has always had serious consequences in the past.
They were made and planned in advance in order to buffer Serbia’s impact on those advocating Kosovo’s independence caused by Serbia’s triumph at the UN General Assembly.
It is unfortunate that Montenegro and Macedonia turned out to be the ones who took upon themselves such actions, said Dacic.
He announced that Serbia will take all measures to clearly state its stance on the province’s recognition, but will not do anything that would fire back on it, nor will its actions harm Montenegrin citizens of Serbian origin.
We will continue talks on dual citizenship we began with Montenegro. Bearing in mind that the deadline for signing the agreement expires this month, we will make sure that citizens who got Serbian citizenship do not lose the Montenegrin one in the process, said Dacic and added that regardless of the decision by the Montenegrin government, the goal is to reach an agreement on dual citizenship.
He stressed that the Ministry of Interior can proudly say that it has fulfilled its part of the task on Serbia’s road to the EU and will do everything it takes to liberalise the visa regime by next year.
However, the rest of the road depends on a number of political reasons, as well as the conclusion of cooperation with the Hague tribunal, said Dacic.
As far as the Ministry of Interior is concerned, Serbia will fulfil its international obligations, stressed Dacic and added that due to possible political tensions, it will be best if Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic surrender voluntarily, as that is the best way to cooperate with the tribunal.
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