Ponoš: Kosovo political, not military issue

Lt.Gen. Zdravko Ponos was on a first official visit of a Serbian Army chief of staff to Turkey this week. After meeting with his Turkish counterpart Gen. Yasar Buyukanit in Ankara Tuesday, Ponos told the Turkish Daily News that if the Kosovo problem is not solved with the mutual agreement of Serbia, "it could trigger some other problems in our region, even outside our region." Ponos: Kosovo political, not military issue Ponos ruled out the use of military force in order to resolve the status crisis and said there were no military preparations for that. "For Serbia, Kosovo is first of all a political issue, and we are ready to work as much as we can to solve this problem and to find the best possible solution for the future." "We are ready to be politically and diplomatically involved, not militarily. This problem cannot be solved through military means," the top Serbian general told the paper. "Ethnic tension can spark again if the political process is not handled on the basis of compromise. I hope all sides are confident in this respect. We have to serve the best interests of our region," Ponos added. "The future status should be sustainable," he said. "For that, the solution should be acceptable for all of us. It is not only political and military issues for Serbia but it is a regional one." "If it is not solved with the mutual agreement of Serbia, it could trigger some other problems in our region, even outside of our region. It is not going to be in interest of the regional countries. It is not up to me to mention some other regions but especially our Turkish friends can understand our worries," Ponos stressed. Asked about the Turkish position on the Kosovo matter, Ponos praised Ankara saying that the Turkish attitude is not based on pure national interests, but it is based on respectable principles." "Serious countries behave that way. They show that they especially understand our situation very well. I really appreciate that," Ponos. The chief of the Serbian army also responded to questions on fugitive former General Ratko Mladic. "Our constitutional role is not to try to find criminals or the suspects but anyway, military forces, the intelligence services are engaged to solve this problem of international interest." "There is no doubt that Serbia will hand him to them [Hague Tribunal]. There is no problem on that. So, the political readiness is there. We are just waiting to complete the technical problem, which is finding those accused persons," Ponos said. However, the chief of staff could not give a precise timeframe for this. "No one can say that it can be solved in a certain period of time like within three or four months. It might be solved tomorrow or in six months. You never know." Serbia is eager to sign a wide defense cooperation agreement with Turkey, Ponos said. "Both sides are ready for closer ties. We want much better ties between the two armed forces," the general said. Ponos referred to the rivalry between the two nations in the past to say, "It made me very happy to see that both of us are oriented for the future. We can learn a lot from history but we cannot be hostages of history." Ponos also said that his counterpart Buyukanit extended Turkey's support to Serbia in its bid to join NATO. "At this point in time, our intention is to become a very active PfP [Partnership for Peace] member. We are very grateful for the support from the Turkish side; we are grateful for receiving support from such a respected country. Our effort will be to do everything that is required to prove active membership," Ponos concluded. Gens. Ponos, Buyukanit (Tanjug, Anadolia)

Ponoš: Kosovo political, not military issue

Ponoš ruled out the use of military force in order to resolve the status crisis and said there were no military preparations for that.

"For Serbia, Kosovo is first of all a political issue, and we are ready to work as much as we can to solve this problem and to find the best possible solution for the future."

"We are ready to be politically and diplomatically involved, not militarily. This problem cannot be solved through military means," the top Serbian general told the paper.

"Ethnic tension can spark again if the political process is not handled on the basis of compromise. I hope all sides are confident in this respect. We have to serve the best interests of our region," Ponoš added.

"The future status should be sustainable," he said. "For that, the solution should be acceptable for all of us. It is not only political and military issues for Serbia but it is a regional one."

"If it is not solved with the mutual agreement of Serbia, it could trigger some other problems in our region, even outside of our region. It is not going to be in interest of the regional countries. It is not up to me to mention some other regions but especially our Turkish friends can understand our worries," Ponoš stressed.

Asked about the Turkish position on the Kosovo matter, Ponoš praised Ankara saying that the Turkish attitude is not based on pure national interests, but it is based on respectable principles."

"Serious countries behave that way. They show that they especially understand our situation very well. I really appreciate that," Ponoš.

The chief of the Serbian army also responded to questions on fugitive former General Ratko Mladić.

"Our constitutional role is not to try to find criminals or the suspects but anyway, military forces, the intelligence services are engaged to solve this problem of international interest."

"There is no doubt that Serbia will hand him to them [Hague Tribunal]. There is no problem on that. So, the political readiness is there. We are just waiting to complete the technical problem, which is finding those accused persons," Ponoš said.

However, the chief of staff could not give a precise timeframe for this.

"No one can say that it can be solved in a certain period of time like within three or four months. It might be solved tomorrow or in six months. You never know."

Serbia is eager to sign a wide defense cooperation agreement with Turkey, Ponoš said.

"Both sides are ready for closer ties. We want much better ties between the two armed forces," the general said.

Ponoš referred to the rivalry between the two nations in the past to say, "It made me very happy to see that both of us are oriented for the future. We can learn a lot from history but we cannot be hostages of history."

Ponoš also said that his counterpart Buyukanit extended Turkey's support to Serbia in its bid to join NATO.

"At this point in time, our intention is to become a very active PfP [Partnership for Peace] member. We are very grateful for the support from the Turkish side; we are grateful for receiving support from such a respected country. Our effort will be to do everything that is required to prove active membership," Ponoš concluded.