Parliament adopts gov't Kosovo decision

The parliament late Monday approved the government decision to annul illegal acts of provisional bodies in Kosovo. It refers to the ethnic Kosovo Albanian's unilateral declaration of independence. Parliament adopts gov't Kosovo decision A total of 225 of the 234 present MPs voted in favor. The Liberal-Democratic Party, Union of Vojvodina Hungarians and League of Social-Democrats of Vojvodina did not vote. "Today, our long struggle to return the entire province into Serbia's constitutional and legal order begins. This is our goal and Serbia will achieve it. If we cannot achieve all of it today, we will do so tomorrow, because Serbia must be free," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in his address before the vote. This will be the permanent and the most important goal of the country's future state policy, Kostunica explained. The prime minister called on Serbia to be wise and to persevere, to rise above violence and to each day show dignity and strength, that will in the end lead her to her goal. "Let's leave force and violence to those who have shamed themselves with it in front of the entire world," he said, in reference to the United States. "Serbia must preserve its stability in order to keep and defend Kosovo. I am using this opportunity to call and plead with all citizens to preserve the peace, to protest in a peaceful manner and not to destroy their cities and their country." "The unilateral declaration of the false state of Kosovo is a direct threat to Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, her Constitution and constitutional order, and all legal and legitimate acts that were adopted by the country's highest state institutions," the prime minister told the lawmakers. He reminded that the government on Feb. 14 adopted a decision to in advance annul all illegal acts by the temporary institutions in Kosovo. As far as Serbia is concerned, the EU's decision to send its mission the province is also null and void. In this respect, Serbia is not in any way obligated to the EU or anyone else who may implement that mission, Kostunica said. "The U.S. and NATO have made it possible for this declaration under cover of brutal force and proof for this is the attempt to at any cost circumvent the UN," he added. Kostunica repeated that he saw yesterday's event as the final phase of NATO's 1999 aggression against Serbia. Strong police forces were tonight guarding the parliament building in Belgrade as lawmakers attended the urgent session. Most cabinet ministers and 243 MPs were attending. The Serbian prime minister and president have previously declared the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence null and void. Serbia sees this act as an illegal attempt to alter its internationally recognized borders. MUP's riot police and Gendarmes were securing the building as rioting in the capital, but also some other towns in Serbia, enters the second day. Kostunica addresses the Serbian parliament (Beta)

Parliament adopts gov't Kosovo decision

A total of 225 of the 234 present MPs voted in favor.

The Liberal-Democratic Party, Union of Vojvodina Hungarians and League of Social-Democrats of Vojvodina did not vote.

"Today, our long struggle to return the entire province into Serbia's constitutional and legal order begins. This is our goal and Serbia will achieve it. If we cannot achieve all of it today, we will do so tomorrow, because Serbia must be free," Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica said in his address before the vote.

This will be the permanent and the most important goal of the country's future state policy, Koštunica explained.

The prime minister called on Serbia to be wise and to persevere, to rise above violence and to each day show dignity and strength, that will in the end lead her to her goal.

"Let's leave force and violence to those who have shamed themselves with it in front of the entire world," he said, in reference to the United States. "Serbia must preserve its stability in order to keep and defend Kosovo. I am using this opportunity to call and plead with all citizens to preserve the peace, to protest in a peaceful manner and not to destroy their cities and their country."

"The unilateral declaration of the false state of Kosovo is a direct threat to Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, her Constitution and constitutional order, and all legal and legitimate acts that were adopted by the country's highest state institutions," the prime minister told the lawmakers.

He reminded that the government on Feb. 14 adopted a decision to in advance annul all illegal acts by the temporary institutions in Kosovo. As far as Serbia is concerned, the EU's decision to send its mission the province is also null and void.

In this respect, Serbia is not in any way obligated to the EU or anyone else who may implement that mission, Koštunica said.

"The U.S. and NATO have made it possible for this declaration under cover of brutal force and proof for this is the attempt to at any cost circumvent the UN," he added.

Koštunica repeated that he saw yesterday's event as the final phase of NATO's 1999 aggression against Serbia.

Strong police forces were tonight guarding the parliament building in Belgrade as lawmakers attended the urgent session.

Most cabinet ministers and 243 MPs were attending.

The Serbian prime minister and president have previously declared the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence null and void. Serbia sees this act as an illegal attempt to alter its internationally recognized borders.

MUP's riot police and Gendarmes were securing the building as rioting in the capital, but also some other towns in Serbia, enters the second day.