Tadić joins criticism of Austria over Kosovo remarks

President Boris Tadic Thursday strongly criticized Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer's Kosovo comments. The president called on statesmen of all countries participating in the resolution of the Kosovo problem to tackle the issue in a responsible manner and to abstain from prejudging the outcome. Tadic joins criticism of Austria over Kosovo remarks Domestic agencies quoted Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer as telling APA news agency that "Austria would be among the first to recognize the independence of Kosovo." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday sent a demarche to Vienna protesting the statement. Tadic today said that the solution to the final status of the province could be reached only in the UN Security Council. "All the possibilities have not been exhausted for finding a compromise solution and that is why Serbia is urging further negotiations as well as the principle that a solution can only be adopted in the UN Security Council," Tadic was quoted in a statement released by his press service. "Serbia will never accept the independence of Kosovo and any unilateral solution would destabilize the region and endanger the economic prospects of all citizens," the president added. He was touring army and police bases in the Presevo Valley on Wednesday, along with Serbian Army (VS) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponos and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, when he said that UN Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo military-technical agreement, both documents adopted after the end of the 1999 war over Kosovo, allow Serbia to "always able to engage our armed units, with the approval of the commander in chief of the international forces, in this case KFOR commander." "We will respect all these principles, as the defense is the corner stone of our sovereignty also in Kosovo and Metohija," Tadic pointed out when he visited the Ground Safety Zone. He said he was "constantly in touch" with the representatives of international security and political structures in Kosovo - from the UN to the NATO Southern Command in Naples and it main HQs in Brussels. Ponos is in constant communication with his counterparts on the other side of the administrative line, Sutanovac with all defense ministers in Europe and with all those who have representatives with the intentional forces stationed in Kosovo, the president explained. "We are ready to at any point react in keeping with all international regulations, to defend Serbs and all others who need protection in Kosovo and Metohija," Tadic said. The president underscored that the country will not wage a war that would plunge it into conflict with the world, adding that "we are ready to take positions and protect the entire population, in keeping with international regulations." "I am once again underscoring this because there are many people who want Serbia to engage into war again, into renewed violence, which in the end would lead to the loss of Kosovo and to the loss of lives. This government, this democracy in Serbia will not do that," Tadic said. Tadic, left, Sutanovac and Ponos (Tanjug)

Tadić joins criticism of Austria over Kosovo remarks

Domestic agencies quoted Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer as telling APA news agency that "Austria would be among the first to recognize the independence of Kosovo."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday sent a demarche to Vienna protesting the statement.

Tadić today said that the solution to the final status of the province could be reached only in the UN Security Council.

"All the possibilities have not been exhausted for finding a compromise solution and that is why Serbia is urging further negotiations as well as the principle that a solution can only be adopted in the UN Security Council," Tadić was quoted in a statement released by his press service.

"Serbia will never accept the independence of Kosovo and any unilateral solution would destabilize the region and endanger the economic prospects of all citizens," the president added.

He was touring army and police bases in the Preševo Valley on Wednesday, along with Serbian Army (VS) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zdravko Ponoš and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac, when he said that UN Resolution 1244 and the Kumanovo military-technical agreement, both documents adopted after the end of the 1999 war over Kosovo, allow Serbia to "always able to engage our armed units, with the approval of the commander in chief of the international forces, in this case KFOR commander."

"We will respect all these principles, as the defense is the corner stone of our sovereignty also in Kosovo and Metohija," Tadić pointed out when he visited the Ground Safety Zone.

He said he was "constantly in touch" with the representatives of international security and political structures in Kosovo - from the UN to the NATO Southern Command in Naples and it main HQs in Brussels.

Ponoš is in constant communication with his counterparts on the other side of the administrative line, Šutanovac with all defense ministers in Europe and with all those who have representatives with the intentional forces stationed in Kosovo, the president explained.

"We are ready to at any point react in keeping with all international regulations, to defend Serbs and all others who need protection in Kosovo and Metohija," Tadić said.

The president underscored that the country will not wage a war that would plunge it into conflict with the world, adding that "we are ready to take positions and protect the entire population, in keeping with international regulations."

"I am once again underscoring this because there are many people who want Serbia to engage into war again, into renewed violence, which in the end would lead to the loss of Kosovo and to the loss of lives. This government, this democracy in Serbia will not do that," Tadić said.