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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia will not give up its rights to Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade/Vienna, 20 October 2008

Serbian Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac said that border changes are not allowed by international law and that Serbia will not give up its rights related to Kosovo-Metohija.

In an interview with Vienna weekly Profil, Sutanovac said that Albanians are welcome to stay where they live today, with full autonomous rights, adding that the foundation of our policy is a multicultural Serbia. The decision of countries in the region to recognise Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence can not speed up their EU integration and does not contribute to regional stability, he said.

He said that Kosovo is the “black hole” of Europe in terms of organised crime.

Sutanovac highlighted the problems of drug trading, sex trafficking and illegal migrations.

The Minister expressed doubt about the danger from armed conflicts, only sporadic incidents are possible he said.

The domino effect needs to be considered. Both Macedonia and Montenegro have parts where Albanians are in a majority, and if they are allowed a referendum you can guess the outcome, stressed Sutanovac. Sutanovac said that the Serbian government is working on Serbia’s EU integration, noting that the extradition of Radovan Karadzic to The Hague shows Serbia’s pro European choice.

We are building a new system of values in which everyone must take responsibility for their actions and we want the rule of law, he explained, also expressing disappointment that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement had not been concluded.