Controversy over reports from Council meeting

The Council for National Security today held a five-hour meeting in Belgrade. After media outlets in the capital reported from the session, which was closed to the public, and citing their unnamed sources, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's cabinet was the first to officially react tonight, calling on participants to issue a statement. Controversy over reports from Council meeting "In view of the numerous information intended to mislead, it is important to release a public statement about the conclusions that the Council has adopted," the PM's cabinet said. "Considering the importance of the issues that the Council deals with, it is extremely negative that the public has been misinformed about the meeting today," Beta news agency was told. No official statement has been released so far. The agency earlier today quoted an anonymous source who said that the body decided that "expert services must first evaluate if any of the actions taken toward the countries that recognize Kosovo will have long-term economic or political consequences for the citizens". The source also said the Council decided that the "services must prevent any repeat of violence seen in Belgrade last week". Another conclusion has reportedly been that "wearing of army uniforms during protests must be banned". As for the victim of the fire in the U.S. embassy last Thursday, the source said the Council decided that the "death was not violent, while the toxicology report has not been received yet". The state television, RTS, quoted its sources as saying that the meeting also decided that the Serbian police, MUP, "performed professionally during the riots in Belgrade". The session was called last Friday by President Boris Tadic. The Council for National Security, presided over by Tadic, also includes the prime minister, ministers of justice, defense and police, and army, intelligence and military intelligence chiefs. Jeremic: Violence only topic Yesterday, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told B92 that the violence on the streets of Belgrade that broke out after peaceful protests against the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence will be the "only topic of discussion" at today’s meeting. Jeremic said that what happened on Thursday is "absolutely unacceptable and that the violence worsens Serbia’s diplomatic capacities". He said that Serbia will continue its diplomatic fight in order to annul the unilateral independence declaration. Jeremic said that Moscow and Belgrade have put together a "united strategy for working on an international level". He explained that Serbia is doing everything to make sure as few countries as possible recognize Kosovo's secession in order to show at the UN General Assembly in September that a large majority of countries do not support Kosovo’s illegal secession. “Our idea is, after it is clear that there can be no confirmation of the international sovereignty of the so-called state of Kosovo, for there to be no other solution for the international community but to return to the negotiating table." "We have made clear the details of this strategy but we have weeks and months of work ahead of us, and a united diplomatic efforts before the international community,” Jeremic said. The U.S. State Department stated that Kosovo will "never be a part of Serbia again", and that Washington will work with Belgrade ad Russia, who oppose Kosovo’s independence. State Department spokesperson Tom Casey said that the U.S. "does not wish to isolate Serbia", and that it "wants Serbia to become a part of Europe". Jeremic, however, said that Serbia is “today, unfortunately, a step further from the EU than it was on February 17,” but that European integration is" still one of the country’s chief priorities". “A permanent point of the government’s agenda is Serbia’s process of European integration, which is discussed at meetings every Thursday. The strategic goals of this government remain unchanged,” Jeremic claims. Jeremic today also spoke for daily Vecerenje Novosti to say that the Serbian diplomatic service has "set itself the goal to secure that the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija does not get international legal legitimacy". "We will fight that as few United Nations members as possible recognize Kosovo-Metiohija as an independent state, that Kosovo does not get full membership in international organizations that would stem from its confirmed sovereignty," Jeremic said. Asked whether the government intends to file charges with the International Court of Justice against the countries that have recognized Kosovo, the minister replied that Serbia's first step will be to ask the International Court of Justice for its official opinion on whether the proclamation of the independence of Kosovo was in keeping with the law. As for recalling of Serbia's ambassadors from the countries that have recognized Kosovo, Jeremic said that the consultations with these ambassadors at the home office will continue until further notice. "We are following developments and, in keeping with our assessments on what is our interest, we can also take more severe measures. The next step would be that the recalling takes on a permanent nature, in fact that the effect is the permanent lowering of the level of diplomatic relations," Jeremic said. Concerning the continuation of the negotiations between Serbia and the European Union (EU), Jeremic said that a number of EU countries have decided to violate the sovereignty of Serbia with their recognition of Kosovo as a state. "We had no other choice but to react to this with diplomatic measures and we now have weaker relations with these countries. We are today further away than a week ago from the realization of our strategic goal - membership in the EU," the foreign minister said. Yesterday, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that the European Union’s political agreement with Serbia is on the table and that "Serbia can sign it at any time". “We have received some unpleasant signals from Serbia over the last days. Of course, the Union has not changed its stance towards Serbia. The temporary political agreement is on the table and Serbia can sign it,” he said.

Controversy over reports from Council meeting

"In view of the numerous information intended to mislead, it is important to release a public statement about the conclusions that the Council has adopted," the PM's cabinet said.

"Considering the importance of the issues that the Council deals with, it is extremely negative that the public has been misinformed about the meeting today," Beta news agency was told.

No official statement has been released so far.

The agency earlier today quoted an anonymous source who said that the body decided that "expert services must first evaluate if any of the actions taken toward the countries that recognize Kosovo will have long-term economic or political consequences for the citizens".

The source also said the Council decided that the "services must prevent any repeat of violence seen in Belgrade last week".

Another conclusion has reportedly been that "wearing of army uniforms during protests must be banned".

As for the victim of the fire in the U.S. embassy last Thursday, the source said the Council decided that the "death was not violent, while the toxicology report has not been received yet".

The state television, RTS, quoted its sources as saying that the meeting also decided that the Serbian police, MUP, "performed professionally during the riots in Belgrade".

The session was called last Friday by President Boris Tadić.

The Council for National Security, presided over by Tadić, also includes the prime minister, ministers of justice, defense and police, and army, intelligence and military intelligence chiefs.

Jeremić: Violence only topic

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić told B92 that the violence on the streets of Belgrade that broke out after peaceful protests against the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence will be the "only topic of discussion" at today’s meeting.

Jeremić said that what happened on Thursday is "absolutely unacceptable and that the violence worsens Serbia’s diplomatic capacities".

He said that Serbia will continue its diplomatic fight in order to annul the unilateral independence declaration.

Jeremić said that Moscow and Belgrade have put together a "united strategy for working on an international level".

He explained that Serbia is doing everything to make sure as few countries as possible recognize Kosovo's secession in order to show at the UN General Assembly in September that a large majority of countries do not support Kosovo’s illegal secession.

“Our idea is, after it is clear that there can be no confirmation of the international sovereignty of the so-called state of Kosovo, for there to be no other solution for the international community but to return to the negotiating table."

"We have made clear the details of this strategy but we have weeks and months of work ahead of us, and a united diplomatic efforts before the international community,” Jeremić said.

The U.S. State Department stated that Kosovo will "never be a part of Serbia again", and that Washington will work with Belgrade ad Russia, who oppose Kosovo’s independence.

State Department spokesperson Tom Casey said that the U.S. "does not wish to isolate Serbia", and that it "wants Serbia to become a part of Europe".

Jeremić, however, said that Serbia is “today, unfortunately, a step further from the EU than it was on February 17,” but that European integration is" still one of the country’s chief priorities".

“A permanent point of the government’s agenda is Serbia’s process of European integration, which is discussed at meetings every Thursday. The strategic goals of this government remain unchanged,” Jeremić claims.

Jeremić today also spoke for daily Večerenje Novosti to say that the Serbian diplomatic service has "set itself the goal to secure that the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija does not get international legal legitimacy".

"We will fight that as few United Nations members as possible recognize Kosovo-Metiohija as an independent state, that Kosovo does not get full membership in international organizations that would stem from its confirmed sovereignty," Jeremić said.

Asked whether the government intends to file charges with the International Court of Justice against the countries that have recognized Kosovo, the minister replied that Serbia's first step will be to ask the International Court of Justice for its official opinion on whether the proclamation of the independence of Kosovo was in keeping with the law.

As for recalling of Serbia's ambassadors from the countries that have recognized Kosovo, Jeremić said that the consultations with these ambassadors at the home office will continue until further notice.

"We are following developments and, in keeping with our assessments on what is our interest, we can also take more severe measures. The next step would be that the recalling takes on a permanent nature, in fact that the effect is the permanent lowering of the level of diplomatic relations," Jeremić said.

Concerning the continuation of the negotiations between Serbia and the European Union (EU), Jeremić said that a number of EU countries have decided to violate the sovereignty of Serbia with their recognition of Kosovo as a state.

"We had no other choice but to react to this with diplomatic measures and we now have weaker relations with these countries. We are today further away than a week ago from the realization of our strategic goal - membership in the EU," the foreign minister said.

Yesterday, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said that the European Union’s political agreement with Serbia is on the table and that "Serbia can sign it at any time".

“We have received some unpleasant signals from Serbia over the last days. Of course, the Union has not changed its stance towards Serbia. The temporary political agreement is on the table and Serbia can sign it,” he said.