Ivanović: UN plan protects sovereignty

State Secretary with the Kosovo Ministry, Oliver Ivanovic, said that the UN plan for deploying EULEX in Kosovo protects Serbia’s sovereignty over the province. Ivanovic said that the so-called six-point plan which the UN and Serbia have agreed on is based on respect for the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244. Ivanovic: UN plan protects sovereignty The first two points related to the police and courts were dominant, because they are key to the survival of Serbs in Kosovo, Ivanovic told daily Vecernje Novosti. “Also, we insisted on creating conditions for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and that is only possible if they do not participate in the Kosovo institutions, because we do not recognize the independence of Kosovo,” he said, adding that “this is why we are demanding to continue cooperation with UNMIK in the goal of normalizing life for Serbs". Asked when the EU mission, EULEX, is expected in Kosovo, Ivanovic said that the implementation of the plan on the ground should immediately follow the upcoming UN Security Council meeting. “The EULEX mission, in that case, can deploy on the ground, but first in the Albanian communities and then in Serb regions, so there time will be given to the Serbs to be convinced that our demands have been accepted and that EULEX is status-neutral, and will not be implementing the plan of Martti Ahtisaari,” he continued. Ivanovic said that EULEX, if it accepts Serbia’s demands – to be approved by the UN SC, be neutral regarding Kosovo's status and not implement the Ahtisaari plan – “cannot be dangerous for Serbs”. “Danger comes only from the International Civilian Office headed by Pieter Feith, which clearly declared that it supports independence and that it intends to implement the Ahtisaari plan,” he said. Feith is the EU special representative in Kosovo. The status of Kosovo, Ivanovic continued, is not definitely solved and this is a “transitional period,” adding that the status must be debated again, while the fact that 52 countries have recognized the Kosovo Albanians' declaration "cannot be ignored". “Still, it is clear to everyone that there is no solution without Serbia, and it is clear that Serbia will never recognize independence. Albanians are also aware of this, as are the countries that perhaps rushed to support them, and the time will come for them to question this,” he said. Regarding claims that budget assets set aside for Kosovo are being misused, Ivanovic said that the ministries for Kosovo, Finance, Health, Education and Social Policies have already put an initiative into motion that will investigate how money allotted to be spent in the province was used.

Ivanović: UN plan protects sovereignty

The first two points related to the police and courts were dominant, because they are key to the survival of Serbs in Kosovo, Ivanović told daily Večernje Novosti.

“Also, we insisted on creating conditions for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and that is only possible if they do not participate in the Kosovo institutions, because we do not recognize the independence of Kosovo,” he said, adding that “this is why we are demanding to continue cooperation with UNMIK in the goal of normalizing life for Serbs".

Asked when the EU mission, EULEX, is expected in Kosovo, Ivanović said that the implementation of the plan on the ground should immediately follow the upcoming UN Security Council meeting.

“The EULEX mission, in that case, can deploy on the ground, but first in the Albanian communities and then in Serb regions, so there time will be given to the Serbs to be convinced that our demands have been accepted and that EULEX is status-neutral, and will not be implementing the plan of Martti Ahtisaari,” he continued.

Ivanović said that EULEX, if it accepts Serbia’s demands – to be approved by the UN SC, be neutral regarding Kosovo's status and not implement the Ahtisaari plan – “cannot be dangerous for Serbs”.

“Danger comes only from the International Civilian Office headed by Pieter Feith, which clearly declared that it supports independence and that it intends to implement the Ahtisaari plan,” he said. Feith is the EU special representative in Kosovo.

The status of Kosovo, Ivanović continued, is not definitely solved and this is a “transitional period,” adding that the status must be debated again, while the fact that 52 countries have recognized the Kosovo Albanians' declaration "cannot be ignored".

“Still, it is clear to everyone that there is no solution without Serbia, and it is clear that Serbia will never recognize independence. Albanians are also aware of this, as are the countries that perhaps rushed to support them, and the time will come for them to question this,” he said.

Regarding claims that budget assets set aside for Kosovo are being misused, Ivanović said that the ministries for Kosovo, Finance, Health, Education and Social Policies have already put an initiative into motion that will investigate how money allotted to be spent in the province was used.