Q:
A:
Ethnic cleansing attempted in Kosovo
Belgrade,
18 March 2004
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today that yesterday's violence against non-Albanian population in Kosovo-Metohija, particularly the local Serb community, is a proof of continuing pogrom of provincial Serbs, adding that the latest developments amounted to an ethnic cleansing attempt which has elements of what has been named a humanitarian catastrophe several years ago.
Author:
Tanjug
Kosovo-Metohija officials have agreed that the March 17 events lead to a conclusion that yesterday's violence, which spread to the entire province, was planned and coordinated in advance, Kostunica said.
Just like the Sept 11 terrorist attack on New York has given a completely new meaning to terrorism, developments in Kosovo have gained a different meaning following March 17, the Prime Minister added.
Kostunica stressed that the latest developments have proved that there are no adequate measures for the protection of Serbs and other non-Albanians in the province, and that KFOR paid more attention to protecting itself rather than the Kosovo-Metohija population.
No adequate political solution to the Kosovo problem was offered over the past five years, the Prime Minister said, stressing that the situation in the province calls for urgent response from the United Nations Security Council, primarily through a more resolute action of international security forces and the introduction of emergency measures in Kosovo-Metohija as it is clear that existing measures are not satisfactory.
Kostunica told a press conference following today's government session that this is the only way to protect Serbs.
Kostunica recalled that Serbia's state bodies as well as those of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro held a series of meetings yesterday, including that of the Supreme Defence Council (VSO), and concluded that the UN Security Council should adopt a resolution to condemn ethnic-Albanian extremism and terrorism and to define a political-security framework for activities of the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija.
For that reason, it was agreed that Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Goran Svilanovic and the Serbian prime minister's adviser on political issues, Slobodan Samardzic, should attend the UN Security Council's session scheduled for 23:00 (Belgrade time) in New York.
Kostunica said that Serbia's state bodies and security forces are open for any kind of cooperation with the UN. He added that it is essential consolidate the situation in Kosovo and bring it under control of international forces.
He recalled that Serbia's authorities had repeatedly warned the international community, KFOR, and UNMIK of the most vulnerable areas that needed urgent intervention. Some of these warnings yielded results, said Kostunica, but added that it was not enough, because in the past five years, no adequate political solution for the crisis in the province has been reached.
Kostunica said that the situation calls for an adequate political solution and confirmed that the Serbian government endorses the setting up of additional institutional guarantees as well as decentralisation in the province, as he had said in his keynote address to the Serbian parliament.
The Prime Minister pointed to the need to provide safety and security for all Serbs and non-Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija through various forms of territorial, personal and cultural autonomy. He reiterated the government's resolve not to give up seeking such a solution.
The problem is that local institutions in Kosovo do not perform their duties of protecting all citizens in the province, especially the most endangered ones, Kostunica said, noting that the international community has largely been ignoring the problems, acting as if all citizens in the province have equal rights.
The Prime Minister urged citizens of Serbia not to use violence as a response to violence, adding that innocent people in Kosovo-Metohija could pay the price of violence in the streets of Belgrade and other cities across the country.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus called on all parliamentary parties to join forces with the government in defence of the national interest. Now is the time to display political maturity, said Labus.
The government has a concept of how to protect the Serbian population in Kosovo-Metohija through political means, he said. The concept calls for full territorial autonomy, Labus explained, adding that the government will use all political and diplomatic means to put the concept into practice.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that the government will hold another session later today to discuss a draft budget law for 2004 and accompanying economic laws.
Following the session today, the government called on citizens to support Kosovo residents by joining Patriarch Pavle, Metropolitan Amfilohije, members of the Holy Synod and government officials in a procession heading for the temple of Saint Sava at 16.00.
Following consultations with representatives of all political parties, the government decided to organise a protest rally outside the government building tomorrow at noon.
Just like the Sept 11 terrorist attack on New York has given a completely new meaning to terrorism, developments in Kosovo have gained a different meaning following March 17, the Prime Minister added.
Kostunica stressed that the latest developments have proved that there are no adequate measures for the protection of Serbs and other non-Albanians in the province, and that KFOR paid more attention to protecting itself rather than the Kosovo-Metohija population.
No adequate political solution to the Kosovo problem was offered over the past five years, the Prime Minister said, stressing that the situation in the province calls for urgent response from the United Nations Security Council, primarily through a more resolute action of international security forces and the introduction of emergency measures in Kosovo-Metohija as it is clear that existing measures are not satisfactory.
Kostunica told a press conference following today's government session that this is the only way to protect Serbs.
Kostunica recalled that Serbia's state bodies as well as those of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro held a series of meetings yesterday, including that of the Supreme Defence Council (VSO), and concluded that the UN Security Council should adopt a resolution to condemn ethnic-Albanian extremism and terrorism and to define a political-security framework for activities of the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija.
For that reason, it was agreed that Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Goran Svilanovic and the Serbian prime minister's adviser on political issues, Slobodan Samardzic, should attend the UN Security Council's session scheduled for 23:00 (Belgrade time) in New York.
Kostunica said that Serbia's state bodies and security forces are open for any kind of cooperation with the UN. He added that it is essential consolidate the situation in Kosovo and bring it under control of international forces.
He recalled that Serbia's authorities had repeatedly warned the international community, KFOR, and UNMIK of the most vulnerable areas that needed urgent intervention. Some of these warnings yielded results, said Kostunica, but added that it was not enough, because in the past five years, no adequate political solution for the crisis in the province has been reached.
Kostunica said that the situation calls for an adequate political solution and confirmed that the Serbian government endorses the setting up of additional institutional guarantees as well as decentralisation in the province, as he had said in his keynote address to the Serbian parliament.
The Prime Minister pointed to the need to provide safety and security for all Serbs and non-Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija through various forms of territorial, personal and cultural autonomy. He reiterated the government's resolve not to give up seeking such a solution.
The problem is that local institutions in Kosovo do not perform their duties of protecting all citizens in the province, especially the most endangered ones, Kostunica said, noting that the international community has largely been ignoring the problems, acting as if all citizens in the province have equal rights.
The Prime Minister urged citizens of Serbia not to use violence as a response to violence, adding that innocent people in Kosovo-Metohija could pay the price of violence in the streets of Belgrade and other cities across the country.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus called on all parliamentary parties to join forces with the government in defence of the national interest. Now is the time to display political maturity, said Labus.
The government has a concept of how to protect the Serbian population in Kosovo-Metohija through political means, he said. The concept calls for full territorial autonomy, Labus explained, adding that the government will use all political and diplomatic means to put the concept into practice.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that the government will hold another session later today to discuss a draft budget law for 2004 and accompanying economic laws.
Following the session today, the government called on citizens to support Kosovo residents by joining Patriarch Pavle, Metropolitan Amfilohije, members of the Holy Synod and government officials in a procession heading for the temple of Saint Sava at 16.00.
Following consultations with representatives of all political parties, the government decided to organise a protest rally outside the government building tomorrow at noon.
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