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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Permanent solution to problem of financing Serbs in Kosovo to be found

Belgrade, 19 August 2010

Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic announced today that the Serbian government will examine at its next session ways for continuation of payment of the Kosovo allowance until a law that will resolve this problem in a systemic way is adopted.

Author: Fonet

Bogdanovic said at a press conference held after the government session that this solution will be in line with the Constitution and it will relate to existing laws.

The Serbian budget for 2010 envisages that the Kosovo allowance be 50% of the employee’s salary.

The Minister explained that a decree on continuation of payment of the Kosovo allowance until the adoption of the relevant law will soon be passed, and confirmed that the government has set up a working group today so that the law for a permanent resolution to the problem of financing of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija could be adopted shortly. The coefficients of salaries of employees in Kosovo-Metohija who are budgetary users are identical to those in other parts of Serbia, he outlined.

Bogdanovic declared that the decision of interim Kosovo authorities to forbid Serbian officials to enter Kosovo-Metohija leads to the straining of relations and an increase in tension.

He added that however, despite the ban, he will go to Kosovska Mitrovica later today to speak with representatives of municipalities and trade unions.

The Minister recalled that he was supposed to visit the village of Priluzje today in order to open a new kindergarten, but he complied with the ban on entering Kosovo-Metohija so as to avoid additional problems.

He affirmed that he informed the Serbian government about this ban and that he expressed harsh protest over this decision in the talks with representatives of international institutions.

It is unacceptable to prohibit anyone who wants to visit Kosovo-Metohija from doing so in such a way, Bogdanovic pointed out and underscored that this is a violation of human rights and freedom of movement.

Such decisions are also reflected in the behaviour of the Albanian population, he highlighted giving the example of houses built for Serbian returnees in the village of Zac that were destroyed yesterday.

All this leads to a deterioration in relations. Such decisions do not lead towards reconciliation, but increase tension. Our policy is peaceful and constructive and we want to solve all problems through compromise and in a pragmatic way, he maintained.

He confirmed that today the Serbian government also discussed the upcoming UN General Assembly session dedicated to the Serbian resolution on Kosovo-Metohija, on which Serbian Minister of Foreign Relations Vuk Jeremic informed members of the government.