President: Serbia to stick to UNSCR 1244

Boris Tadic says he is certain that the pressures on Belgrade to give up the UNSC Resolution 1244 in the process of solving the Kosovo problem will continue. The goal of the pressures is to pull the issue of Kosovo out of the jurisdiction of the UN and to impose a policy of fait accompli, the Serbian president said in an interview for the Friday issue of Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. President: Serbia to stick to UNSCR 1244 By renouncing to the UN document, Serbia would lose the possibility of searching for a compromise solution to the Kosovo problem, Tadic said. Our response to pressures should not be to impose an obstinate patriotic sense, but to cleverly get allies, highlight the depth of the problems and propose solutions that can be effective in practice, Tadic said. However, new international talks on Kosovo are not certain, given the overall political atmosphere, Tadic noted. Therefore, Serbia has to continue finding new ways for resolving problems, without giving up on its national interests, so as to accustom itself to the new reality of international relations, he said. Tadic said that the plan aimed at resolving the Kosovo issue must be based on four points: solution for northern Kosovo, preservation of Serbian monuments and assets, and security guarantees for the Serbs residing south of the Ibar River. The main framework of this plan is outlined by the Constitution, which clearly states that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, and by the firm stand of the most influential countries in the international community which do not want partition of Kosovo-Metohija, Tadic said. There are numerous models throughout the world which offer solutions which could be applied in Kosovo-Metohija, he recalled. "I cannot make a pledge as to when a solution will be found, but I can promise that we will spare no effort to arrive at a solution as soon as possible," Tadic said. Reflecting on proposals put forth by some political parties in Serbia that the Ahtisaari Plan should be used as a basis for the solution, Tadic said that the plan is good only in certain aspects but cannot offer an effective and acceptable answer to the problems Serbs are facing in Kosovo. He said that it is not clear to him why the parties gathered in the U-Turn are attacking the policy of both membership in the EU and preservation of interests in Kosovo as unrealistic and are suggesting that the Ahtisaari Plan should be implemented in the north, although it offers far less options to Serbs than they have had for years now. The president wondered whether these parties intend to impose such a solution on Serbs by force, since the local Serb population does not want it, and asked whether such a policy can be dubbed realistic. Ahead of the new session of the European Council on Serbia's EU candidate status, Tadic said that a positive decision would certainly serve as wind in the sails of Serbia's pro-European forces, but that the decision is not fateful because Serbia is undeniably on the right European track and will not change its strategic approach. Commenting on the conditions Germany imposed on Serbia, Tadic said that competent bodies are trying to find a solution in talks with Berlin. Pressures are not effective, Tadic said and pointed out that Serbia attaches considerable gravity to Germany's stand since it is a key country in the EU today, and Serbia wishes to find a solution to this issue through joint efforts. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

President: Serbia to stick to UNSCR 1244

By renouncing to the UN document, Serbia would lose the possibility of searching for a compromise solution to the Kosovo problem, Tadić said.

Our response to pressures should not be to impose an obstinate patriotic sense, but to cleverly get allies, highlight the depth of the problems and propose solutions that can be effective in practice, Tadić said.

However, new international talks on Kosovo are not certain, given the overall political atmosphere, Tadić noted.

Therefore, Serbia has to continue finding new ways for resolving problems, without giving up on its national interests, so as to accustom itself to the new reality of international relations, he said.

Tadić said that the plan aimed at resolving the Kosovo issue must be based on four points: solution for northern Kosovo, preservation of Serbian monuments and assets, and security guarantees for the Serbs residing south of the Ibar River.

The main framework of this plan is outlined by the Constitution, which clearly states that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, and by the firm stand of the most influential countries in the international community which do not want partition of Kosovo-Metohija, Tadić said.

There are numerous models throughout the world which offer solutions which could be applied in Kosovo-Metohija, he recalled.

"I cannot make a pledge as to when a solution will be found, but I can promise that we will spare no effort to arrive at a solution as soon as possible," Tadić said.

Reflecting on proposals put forth by some political parties in Serbia that the Ahtisaari Plan should be used as a basis for the solution, Tadić said that the plan is good only in certain aspects but cannot offer an effective and acceptable answer to the problems Serbs are facing in Kosovo.

He said that it is not clear to him why the parties gathered in the U-Turn are attacking the policy of both membership in the EU and preservation of interests in Kosovo as unrealistic and are suggesting that the Ahtisaari Plan should be implemented in the north, although it offers far less options to Serbs than they have had for years now.

The president wondered whether these parties intend to impose such a solution on Serbs by force, since the local Serb population does not want it, and asked whether such a policy can be dubbed realistic.

Ahead of the new session of the European Council on Serbia's EU candidate status, Tadić said that a positive decision would certainly serve as wind in the sails of Serbia's pro-European forces, but that the decision is not fateful because Serbia is undeniably on the right European track and will not change its strategic approach.

Commenting on the conditions Germany imposed on Serbia, Tadić said that competent bodies are trying to find a solution in talks with Berlin.

Pressures are not effective, Tadić said and pointed out that Serbia attaches considerable gravity to Germany's stand since it is a key country in the EU today, and Serbia wishes to find a solution to this issue through joint efforts.