Koštunica denounces Bush arms delivery

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has slammed George Bush's decision to send arms to Kosovo. Kostunica said that the move was a "new and gravely mistaken step taken by the U.S. following the illegal recognition of its (Kosovo’s) unilateral independence." Kostunica denounces Bush arms delivery "There are already too many weapons in Kosovo and, instead of further arming the ethnic Albanians, it would be much better if America were to start respecting international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter again. It’s not new weapons that are required for Kosovo, but new negotiations. "Because, it is quite certain that the re-establishment of international law in the Balkans, and not the dispatch of weaponry, presents the pathway that guarantees the preservation of peace and stability in the region," the outgoing prime minister told daily Vecernje Novosti in an interview, part of which will be published on Friday. Kostunica said that the decision to send U.S. arms merely confirmed that a dangerous plan was being hatched to create the world’s first NATO state. "That is why this decision by the American president causes the deepest concern, and it can only further aggravate the problems caused by the violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and Washington's approval for the unilateral declaration of independence in Pristina," he added. Kostunica said that the U.S. authorities "must know that the Serbian people are watching with bitterness and remembering the policy of force that the USA is conducting against Serbia." "Every Serb knows that the struggle so far for Kosovo has secured the legitimate right for the state of Serbia to forever consider the province of Kosovo as its integral and inalienable part. This right is today being confirmed for us by the vast number of states that have refused to recognize the self-proclaimed NATO state," the prime minister underlined. His comments came in the light of the U.S. president's decision yesterday to approve the delivery of a consignment of weapons to Kosovo in a sign of establishing intergovernmental relations after the recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral independence. In a White House memorandum sent to the State Department, President Bush stated that Kosovo could from now on receive “defense material and services according to U.S. regulations.” A high State Department official said that that decision followed the U.S. recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence, and added that it was a normal process as part of establishing relations between two governments. The same source stated that arms restrictions remained in force for Kosovo under former UN special envoy Marti Ahtisaari’s plan, in order to avoid Serbian and Russian discontent. Vojislav Kostunica (FoNet, archive)

Koštunica denounces Bush arms delivery

"There are already too many weapons in Kosovo and, instead of further arming the ethnic Albanians, it would be much better if America were to start respecting international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter again. It’s not new weapons that are required for Kosovo, but new negotiations.

"Because, it is quite certain that the re-establishment of international law in the Balkans, and not the dispatch of weaponry, presents the pathway that guarantees the preservation of peace and stability in the region," the outgoing prime minister told daily Večernje Novosti in an interview, part of which will be published on Friday.

Koštunica said that the decision to send U.S. arms merely confirmed that a dangerous plan was being hatched to create the world’s first NATO state.

"That is why this decision by the American president causes the deepest concern, and it can only further aggravate the problems caused by the violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and Washington's approval for the unilateral declaration of independence in Priština," he added.

Koštunica said that the U.S. authorities "must know that the Serbian people are watching with bitterness and remembering the policy of force that the USA is conducting against Serbia."

"Every Serb knows that the struggle so far for Kosovo has secured the legitimate right for the state of Serbia to forever consider the province of Kosovo as its integral and inalienable part. This right is today being confirmed for us by the vast number of states that have refused to recognize the self-proclaimed NATO state," the prime minister underlined.

His comments came in the light of the U.S. president's decision yesterday to approve the delivery of a consignment of weapons to Kosovo in a sign of establishing intergovernmental relations after the recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral independence.

In a White House memorandum sent to the State Department, President Bush stated that Kosovo could from now on receive “defense material and services according to U.S. regulations.”

A high State Department official said that that decision followed the U.S. recognition of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence, and added that it was a normal process as part of establishing relations between two governments.

The same source stated that arms restrictions remained in force for Kosovo under former UN special envoy Marti Ahtisaari’s plan, in order to avoid Serbian and Russian discontent.