Koštunica: Act of injustice and violence

Koštunica: Act of injustice and violence

“The United States has to find some other way to express its love and affection for the Albanians instead of giving them Serbian territory as a present,” Koštunica said.

“Serbia has every right to be embittered with the U.S. policy toward resolving the issue of Kosovo. By bombing Serbia in 1999, the U.S. has already made a mistake big enough for both this century and the previous one."

"A new mistake in the form of supporting a unilateral proclamation of Kosovo’s independence would come across as an act of injustice and violence the Serbian people could never forget,” Koštunica said.

Earlier, the government web site reported that Koštunica’s Media Advisor Srđan Đurić said Sunday it was “not the United States, but the UN Security Council who is in charge of the status issue under the valid Resolution 1244 and the UN Charter.”

According to Đurić, Saturday’s meeting between Koštunica and Putin in St. Petersburg showed “with clarity” that a new Kosovo resolution “cannot pass in the UN Security Council.”

Đurić also told Beta that during the talks between the two leaders, a joint policy of Russia and Serbia about the Kosovo issue, “which had been established during the meeting of Putin and Koštunica in Saint Petersburg a year ago,” was confirmed.  Đurić expressed the Serbian side’s satisfaction with the visit.  

“It is of utmost importance for Serbia that President Putin expressed Russia’s firm support that no resolution that would cut Serbia and create an independent Kosovo on our territory would pass in the Security Council,” Đurić said.

Sunday, the U.S. president voiced support for Kosovo’s independence during his visit to Albania, the first by a U.S. president.

"At some point in time, sooner rather than later, you've got to say, 'enough is enough, Kosovo is independent,'" Bush told journalists in Tirana.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić told B92 that Bush had reiterated a well-known position which his country holds on the Kosovo status issue.

“I would say this was done with the aim of strengthening the United States’ negotiating position ahead of a forthcoming Security Council debate, where his country has a very strong standing. Our position is opposed to that [stance], as are the positions of some other council members, not only those with the right of veto,” Jeremić said.

Jeremić could not confirm claims that the government had prepared a decree to annul any act of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, though he stated that such a document should be prepared, and that it would be worked on by all the ministries.

“We have said many times that such a unilateral declaration, whether recognized by third parties or not, would be void for us. We would declare such acts void,” Jeremić told B92.

“Bush, Putin may agree on Kosovo”

Director of the Balkan Institute for Democracy Ivan Vejvoda says that the presidents of the U.S. and Russia may manage to reach a compromise over Kosovo, which would, according to him, make enough room for Russia to abstain from using its veto at the UN Security Council.

“During a meeting due to take place on July first and second, the two presidents will  have an opportunity to reach a compromise and agree on a resolution which might, if not satisfy both sides in the settlement process, at least make space for Russia’s abstention,” Vejvoda told the Voice of America.

Commenting on Bush’s statement that the time had come to set deadlines for final decisions on Kosovo, Vejvoda said that the statement was not unexpected, as it “mirrored the U.S. stance.”

“However, bearing in mind the threats of veto, the U.S. is not aiming at a direct UN confrontation with Russia. Therefore, more time is given for the UN Security Council member states to negotiate and come to an agreement,” Vejvoda said.

Kosovo leadership hails Bush’s support

Kosovo leaders have expressed their appreciation and gratitude for Bush’s remarks on Kosovo’s future status, BIRN reports from Priština.

“In this way, with such statements, Bush not only confirmed the U.S. support for Kosovo’s independence, but in a way he also declared independence for Kosovo,” Prime Minister Agim Ceku said.

Kosovo’s president, Fatmir Sejdiu, rated Bush’s visit to Albania and his statement on the territory’s status as very important.

“We have wished and waited for this moment,” Sejdiu said.

Hashim Thaci, the head of the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), said Bush’s statement “could not be more clear.”

“The time of delays passed and now is the time for independence,” he said. Thaci appealed to the UN “to follow Bush’s call” and to adopt a resolution on Kosovo as soon as possible.

Veton Surroi, head of Reformist Party ORA (ORA) said, “Bush was clear that the final status of Kosovo will be independence.”