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

Efforts to maintain security in southern Serbia

Belgrade, 3 August 2009

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic stated that last week he held talks with leaders of the ethnic-Albanian community in southern Serbia, as part of efforts to preserve political stability and security in the area.

In a statement to Tanjug news agency, Dacic said that the meeting was held after the recent incidents in the area, including the attack on members of the Gendarmerie, adding that the Special Forces will be present in southern Serbia as long as the situation remains unstable.

The talks were constructive and will be continued. I want our security forces in southern Serbia to have the support of the public and to put up a joint fight against crime, said Dacic.

He said that there is willingness on both sides to resolve the various problems in southern Serbia so that the situation returns to normal.

He said that joint efforts are required to stabilise the situation because information indicates the presence of certain groups in Kosovo which want to destabilise southern Serbia. The presence of special security forces in southern Serbian must be looked at in this context, explained Dacic.

He stressed that the special forces will act firmly to defend sovereignty, to protect law and order and to fight against crime and terrorism. On the other hand a clear stance has been taken that all Serbian citizens have equal rights and that peace and security should be established for all the communities in southern Serbia and that the Albanians in the area should be completely integrated into the political, social and security systems, said Dacic. He said that security threats are present in southern Serbia and that the role of the Gendarmerie is to secure peace and stability and to protect the property and lives of the people. The special security forces will be used only in situations when the ordinary police and the multiethnic police force are not able to resolve an incident, said Dacic, adding that Albanians should be encouraged to join the police and other state services as much as possible. He said that a multiethnic police force should play a larger role in the fight against crime and corruption and the special forces should be used only to carry out certain tasks and duties. The Interior Ministry will provide full support to the Coordinating Body for southern Serbia headed by Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic, in order to fully integrate the ethnic Albanian minority into the national system. Dacic said that he will continue cooperation and talks with Albanian leaders aimed at the preservation of stability, law and order and better human and minority rights protection.