“UN won’t take Kosovo away”

“UN won’t take Kosovo away”

“We are not talking only of Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo’s independence would trigger an endless and incontrollable chain of events. That’s why independence is ruled put,” he argued.

Koštunica claimed that there were states “with sufficient power not to let the international order plunge into chaos.”

“I believe it is now obvious that Serbia and many other states, including Russia and China, gave irrefutable arguments as to why a UN member state cannot be deprived of its territory,” Koštunica concluded.

Ceku: Idependence by end of May

Kosovo prime minister Agim Ceku says Kosovo will gain independence by the end of May.

In an interview with the Sarajevo daily Dnevni Avaz, Ceku said there was no room for disappointment and worry following the first UN Security Council session on Kosovo.

“The session showed that Kosovo status settlement process goes at projected pace. It’s the first time UN Security Council ever discussed the independence of Kosovo, which as a great achievement,” Ceku said.

According to him, it was important that the majority of the Council member states unequivocally backed Martti Ahtisaari’s plan, adding that  objections hat could have been heard were already expected.

Ceku voiced hope that Russia would change its position and “accept Ahtisaari’s plan as the only sensible and realistic option for Kosovo.”

Commenting on Serbian prime minister Vojislav Koštunica’s statements following the UN Security Council session, Ceku said that “Serbia and its leaders proved over the years they suffered from inability to understand reality.”

When asked whether he expected the remaining Serbs in Kosovo to emigrate in case Kosovo attained statehood, he said it wouldn’t happen.

“Independence for the province could only signal to Kosovo Serbs they should stay and call others to return,” Ceku concluded.

“Serbia to seek legal protection”

Justice minister Zoran Stojković says Serbia might seek legal protection in case of bilateral recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

“If certain states recognized Kosovo’s independence, Serbia might seek legal protection from the International Court of Justice in the Hague, since bilateral recognition of Kosovo’s statehood as such violates fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Stojković said.

He added it was dangerous to connect Kosovo’s status issue with Serbia’s future in the European Union.

“Is someone promised you the EU membership, and you gave up a part of your territory, you can’t no longer tell whether the rest of your land is secured,” Stojković added.

“In that sense, we have already received a request for autonomy from three municipalities in southern Serbia” Stojković concluded.