Serbian parliament adopts declaration on Kosovo

The Serbian parliament shortly after midnight on Sunday adopted its newest declaration dedicated to Kosovo. The document was adopted with 181 votes in favor, 20 against, four abstained, while two MPs chose not to vote. There were 207 MPs present. Serbian parliament adopts declaration on Kosovo The declaration was drafted by the government, and harmonized during the day. The government thus reacted to the developing crisis in the province, sparked with Kosovo Albanian authorities' attempt on Monday to impose their customs service on two administrative line checkpoints in the Serb north. The government's declaration concerns the situation in Kosovo in the wake of unilateral and violent acts of the interim institutions of self-government in Pristina, it was said earlier in the day. The opposition Democratic Party of Serbia's amendment to the draft called for new Kosovo negotiations, but under United Nations instead of European Union auspices, and respecting UNSC Resolution 1244. The amendment was rejected by the committee. The MPs on the party's ticket then moved to vote against the declaration, as did the Liberal Democrats (LDP), who demanded "a change of policy on Kosovo". They were joined by the ethnic Albanian MP representing a coalition from southern Serbia, while ethnic Hungarian parties abstained from voting. The parties of the ruling coalition were supported by the opposition Serb Progressives (SNS), the Serb Radicals (SRS), and New Serbia (NS). Serbian PM Mirko Cvetkovic and his cabinet attended the session which started at 14:00 CET on Saturday. Cvetkovic was the first to address MPs. Several foreign ambassadors watched the session from the gallery. Serbian President Boris Tadic also attended, and his speech closed the debate before the voting took place early on Sunday. Tadic told MPs that peace had no alternative, and that Serbia's most important goal was to maintain peace. He also stressed that Serbia will not go to war. The president stated he was joining a majority of citizens of the Western Balkans in his belief that only peace-loving policies were policies of the future. Tadic added that only such a policy could bring results in protection of Serbia and the Serb people. He also stressed that Serbia cannot solve problems without cooperation with factors of the international community. (Beta) Declaration summary Below is a summary of the harmonized text proposed by the government and adopted by MPs: The Declaration on Kosovo condemns the unilateral and violent acts of the provisional self-government institutions in Pristina and calls for peaceful resolving of the crisis. The Serbian parliament notes that the provisional institutions in Pristina have tried to forcibly change the realities on the ground, exert additional pressure on Serbia and essentially nullify the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Serbian parliament notes with a special concern that some of the international missions deployed in Kosovo and Metohija on the basis of the decision or with the authorization of the United Nations, have by some of their activities violated the established framework of UNSCR 1244 and thereby threatened the rights and survival of the Serb population and interests in the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija. The Serbian parliament notes that such actions represent a gross violation of international law, primarily the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Such acts and activities directly jeopardize the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, the document says. The Serbian parliament demands that the Serbian government take the necessary measures for consistent recognition of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 by all international missions in Kosovo and Metohija, condemns all violence in Kosovo and Metohija, and calls for the crisis caused by unilateral act of Pristina to be resolved peacefully. The Serbian parliament also establishes a framework of action of state authorities and other public factors in defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, the document says. The document states that the parliament supports the government in continuing the dialogue with Pristina, with the aim to find solutions to concrete problems of the citizens in the southern Serbian province, as well as to reach a permanent and compromise solution. The Serbian parliament particularly obligates the government to do its best, in all circumstances that may occur, to protect the lives and property, rights and freedoms of Kosovo citizens, especially Serbs and others threatened by violence.

Serbian parliament adopts declaration on Kosovo

The declaration was drafted by the government, and harmonized during the day. The government thus reacted to the developing crisis in the province, sparked with Kosovo Albanian authorities' attempt on Monday to impose their customs service on two administrative line checkpoints in the Serb north.

The government's declaration concerns the situation in Kosovo in the wake of unilateral and violent acts of the interim institutions of self-government in Priština, it was said earlier in the day.

The opposition Democratic Party of Serbia's amendment to the draft called for new Kosovo negotiations, but under United Nations instead of European Union auspices, and respecting UNSC Resolution 1244.

The amendment was rejected by the committee.

The MPs on the party's ticket then moved to vote against the declaration, as did the Liberal Democrats (LDP), who demanded "a change of policy on Kosovo".

They were joined by the ethnic Albanian MP representing a coalition from southern Serbia, while ethnic Hungarian parties abstained from voting.

The parties of the ruling coalition were supported by the opposition Serb Progressives (SNS), the Serb Radicals (SRS), and New Serbia (NS).

Serbian PM Mirko Cvetković and his cabinet attended the session which started at 14:00 CET on Saturday. Cvetković was the first to address MPs.

Several foreign ambassadors watched the session from the gallery.

Serbian President Boris Tadić also attended, and his speech closed the debate before the voting took place early on Sunday.

Tadić told MPs that peace had no alternative, and that Serbia's most important goal was to maintain peace.

He also stressed that Serbia will not go to war.

The president stated he was joining a majority of citizens of the Western Balkans in his belief that only peace-loving policies were policies of the future. Tadić added that only such a policy could bring results in protection of Serbia and the Serb people.

He also stressed that Serbia cannot solve problems without cooperation with factors of the international community.

Declaration summary

Below is a summary of the harmonized text proposed by the government and adopted by MPs:

The Declaration on Kosovo condemns the unilateral and violent acts of the provisional self-government institutions in Priština and calls for peaceful resolving of the crisis.

The Serbian parliament notes that the provisional institutions in Priština have tried to forcibly change the realities on the ground, exert additional pressure on Serbia and essentially nullify the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

The Serbian parliament notes with a special concern that some of the international missions deployed in Kosovo and Metohija on the basis of the decision or with the authorization of the United Nations, have by some of their activities violated the established framework of UNSCR 1244 and thereby threatened the rights and survival of the Serb population and interests in the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian parliament notes that such actions represent a gross violation of international law, primarily the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Such acts and activities directly jeopardize the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, the document says.

The Serbian parliament demands that the Serbian government take the necessary measures for consistent recognition of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 by all international missions in Kosovo and Metohija, condemns all violence in Kosovo and Metohija, and calls for the crisis caused by unilateral act of Priština to be resolved peacefully.

The Serbian parliament also establishes a framework of action of state authorities and other public factors in defending the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia, the document says.

The document states that the parliament supports the government in continuing the dialogue with Priština, with the aim to find solutions to concrete problems of the citizens in the southern Serbian province, as well as to reach a permanent and compromise solution.

The Serbian parliament particularly obligates the government to do its best, in all circumstances that may occur, to protect the lives and property, rights and freedoms of Kosovo citizens, especially Serbs and others threatened by violence.