Embargo "hostile provocation", Serbia won't react

Belgrade will not retaliate with trade measures in reaction to Pristina's ban on Serbian goods, Boris Tadic said on Thursday. But the Serbian president described the move of the Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina as "unacceptable, hostile provocation", which he said was "encouraged" from abroad. Embargo "hostile provocation", Serbia won't react Pristina decided to introduce the ban since Serbia does not accept its customs seal with symbols of the self-proclaimed "state of Kosovo". Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, but Serbia rejected this proclamation. Speaking on Mt. Tara in western Serbia on Thursday, Tadic referred to the decision as "provocation". "We will not respond with counter-measures, just as we do not react to other provocations, because we need stability in the region," said he. Tadic warned that the decision would influence the ongoing, EU-organized Kosovo dialogue, but at the same time expressed hope that the negotiating process "will not be completely derailed". "I am convinced that this could not have happened without international sponsorship, and those who encouraged Pristina to do it made a big mistake," he continued, describing the embargo as an "unacceptable, hostile gesture". Serbia, continued the president, fulfills its international obligations and respects not only its laws, but also moral principles. "To introduce trade sanctions that harm ordinary people at such a time is immoral, absurd and contrary to European principles," according to Tadic. The president said he was in contact with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and that he received assurances that the Pristina authorities' decision will not receive support from Brussels. "Serbia will careful monitor the behavior of EU institutions concerning the embargo of the Pristina authorities," continued Tadic, adding that he hoped Pristina would "consider very carefully the bottom-line consequences of its decision". "If Serbia were to do something of the kind, it would immediately face accusations from the international community, and for this reason, we are monitoring the reactions of the international community and European institutions," said the president. Boris Tadic (Tanjug, file) Government to take trade issue to EC The Serbian government has announced that it will take the problem of the trade with Kosovo - in which it achieves high surplus - to the European Commission. Government Media Office chief Milivoje Mihajlovic said on Thursday in Belgrade that Serbia will bring the attention of the United Nations and the European Union to the issue. "The government appraised that the decision of the interim authorities in Pristina disavows the meaning of the Kosovo dialogue and aims to cause insecurity of the Serb population and prevent any attempt at finding a democratic solution to the problem of the southern province," said he. Mihajlovic also noted that the government concluded that Pristina's move represented a unilateral act that violated the CEFTA free trade agreement, and disrupted normal supply of goods to residents of the southern Serbian province.

Embargo "hostile provocation", Serbia won't react

Priština decided to introduce the ban since Serbia does not accept its customs seal with symbols of the self-proclaimed "state of Kosovo".

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence in February 2008, but Serbia rejected this proclamation.

Speaking on Mt. Tara in western Serbia on Thursday, Tadić referred to the decision as "provocation".

"We will not respond with counter-measures, just as we do not react to other provocations, because we need stability in the region," said he.

Tadić warned that the decision would influence the ongoing, EU-organized Kosovo dialogue, but at the same time expressed hope that the negotiating process "will not be completely derailed".

"I am convinced that this could not have happened without international sponsorship, and those who encouraged Priština to do it made a big mistake," he continued, describing the embargo as an "unacceptable, hostile gesture".

Serbia, continued the president, fulfills its international obligations and respects not only its laws, but also moral principles.

"To introduce trade sanctions that harm ordinary people at such a time is immoral, absurd and contrary to European principles," according to Tadić.

The president said he was in contact with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and that he received assurances that the Priština authorities' decision will not receive support from Brussels.

"Serbia will careful monitor the behavior of EU institutions concerning the embargo of the Priština authorities," continued Tadić, adding that he hoped Priština would "consider very carefully the bottom-line consequences of its decision".

"If Serbia were to do something of the kind, it would immediately face accusations from the international community, and for this reason, we are monitoring the reactions of the international community and European institutions," said the president.

Government to take trade issue to EC

The Serbian government has announced that it will take the problem of the trade with Kosovo - in which it achieves high surplus - to the European Commission.

Government Media Office chief Milivoje Mihajlović said on Thursday in Belgrade that Serbia will bring the attention of the United Nations and the European Union to the issue.

"The government appraised that the decision of the interim authorities in Priština disavows the meaning of the Kosovo dialogue and aims to cause insecurity of the Serb population and prevent any attempt at finding a democratic solution to the problem of the southern province," said he.

Mihajlović also noted that the government concluded that Priština's move represented a unilateral act that violated the CEFTA free trade agreement, and disrupted normal supply of goods to residents of the southern Serbian province.