K. Albanians "investing money" in recognitions

The government media office chief has addressed recent recognitions of Kosovo by saying they were "neither a big, nor a serious step toward independence". In the past week Benin, Niger and Guinea, as well as some Caribbean countries, recognized Kosovo as independent. The province's ethic Albanians made their unilateral declaration in February 2008, but Serbia rejected it. K. Albanians "investing money" in recognitions Now Milivoje Mihajlovic says the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina had "set aside big sums of money for their campaign of renewal of recognitions of Kosovo". "Those are smaller countries and their recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo came primarily as a consequence of the pressure from western lobbies, while the person carrying out those activities in Pristina is Behgjet Pacolli, who is spending a lot of money for that purpose. In essence, there are no key countries among them that would be important for the decision making process on a global scale," the Serbian government media office chief told Belgrade-based daily Politika in an interview. He noted that "all politically and economically strong countries, allies of that 'independence', recognized Kosovo right away", but that other important countries did not, and mentioned Russia, China, India, and Latin American states. "Those are serious countries, with growing economic and political influence, and their governments are aware that recognizing Kosovo would mean a serious violation of international law," continued Mihajlovic. According to him, "essentially, the status of Kosovo and Metohija will have to be debated at the UN". "The United Nations must take care of international law, otherwise the world would be brought to the edge of chaos, since several 'Kosovos' would appear in various parts of the world." Mihajlovic asserted that Serbia's "counter-action" had been ongoing since the UDI was made and that it "continues unabated". "We are in constant contact with those countries that have not recognized Kosovo, but also with those that have, and we are lobbying to have the problem solved through dialogue, to discuss the status at the UN, instead of unilateral actions that change the situation in the field". Mihajlovic said "a silent war" was ongoing for the province, where Pristina and powerful western countries were fighting against our diplomacy. "We are winning in that 'war' for the time being. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is conducting a truly serious campaign and it has brought results," said he. Mihajlovic further explained: "You may remember that there were appraisals in European centers of power and in the United States that within the first month of the declaration of Independence, 100 countries would recognize Kosovo, and that was in a way treated as a safe promise, but it never happened. Still, the most important thing is that the status of Kosovo and Metohija cannot, and will never be solved without Serbia."

K. Albanians "investing money" in recognitions

Now Milivoje Mihajlović says the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština had "set aside big sums of money for their campaign of renewal of recognitions of Kosovo".

"Those are smaller countries and their recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo came primarily as a consequence of the pressure from western lobbies, while the person carrying out those activities in Priština is Behgjet Pacolli, who is spending a lot of money for that purpose. In essence, there are no key countries among them that would be important for the decision making process on a global scale," the Serbian government media office chief told Belgrade-based daily Politika in an interview.

He noted that "all politically and economically strong countries, allies of that 'independence', recognized Kosovo right away", but that other important countries did not, and mentioned Russia, China, India, and Latin American states.

"Those are serious countries, with growing economic and political influence, and their governments are aware that recognizing Kosovo would mean a serious violation of international law," continued Mihajlović.

According to him, "essentially, the status of Kosovo and Metohija will have to be debated at the UN".

"The United Nations must take care of international law, otherwise the world would be brought to the edge of chaos, since several 'Kosovos' would appear in various parts of the world."

Mihajlović asserted that Serbia's "counter-action" had been ongoing since the UDI was made and that it "continues unabated".

"We are in constant contact with those countries that have not recognized Kosovo, but also with those that have, and we are lobbying to have the problem solved through dialogue, to discuss the status at the UN, instead of unilateral actions that change the situation in the field".

Mihajlović said "a silent war" was ongoing for the province, where Priština and powerful western countries were fighting against our diplomacy.

"We are winning in that 'war' for the time being. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs is conducting a truly serious campaign and it has brought results," said he.

Mihajlović further explained:

"You may remember that there were appraisals in European centers of power and in the United States that within the first month of the declaration of Independence, 100 countries would recognize Kosovo, and that was in a way treated as a safe promise, but it never happened. Still, the most important thing is that the status of Kosovo and Metohija cannot, and will never be solved without Serbia."