President urges compromise over Kosovo

President Boris Tadic spoke for Tanjug news agency on Thursday in Belgrade about a wide range of topics, including Kosovo, organized crime, and EU integrations. Reacting to comments heard from some quarters that Serbia "ought to recognize the factual situation on the ground" when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, Tadic noted that there are "several different realities on the ground". President urges compromise over Kosovo "One is that (ethnic) Albanians in Kosovo do not wish to live under Serbia's sovereign roof, and the other reality is that Serbs in Kosovo do not wish to live under the sovereign roof of the so-called independent Kosovo". For this reason, the president continued, a compromise and sustainable solution can only be reached by taking into account the interests of both sides. "We are ready to, after the ICJ decision (on the legality of the UDI), reach compromise through dialogue," Tadic told the news agency. He stressed that the tragic experience of the pogrom six years ago, launched by ethnic Albanians against Serbs in Kosovo, "is a warn to us that the danger of turning to violence in the Western Balkans region is still here". "The situation is still very volatile. Lately, the freedom of movement of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija has improved somewhat, but the situation is not nearly sufficiently stable, while the living conditions for our compatriots are without a doubt worse that those found in any nation in the entire European continent. The Serb people in Kosovo are absolutely the most endangered people in modern day Europe," Tadic stated. “Serbia does not accept and it does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, and it shall not recognize it, so there is no need for anyone to try to persuade us to do that, or blackmail us, because that is mission impossible,” the president stated. Tadic is interviewed by Tanjug (Tanjug) Chain of organized crime has to be cut Tadic also stated Serbia and all its institutions are determined to fight organized crime, which along with groups of hooligans, and terrorist groups of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, represents the greatest threat for the national security. "The question arises whether Serbia will be a legal society in which all citizens will be protected, or it will be chronically hit by destabilization, crime and everything else that jeopardizes the legal order. I believe that we have no alternative policy and that the determined fight against organized crime is the responsibility of all top officials," Tadic said during his interview for Tanjug. "Given that Serbia cannot allow spreading of organized crime, particularly drug trafficking which is the most harmful for social interests, the chain of crime has to be cut," Tadic said. Tadic believes that the fight against organized crime, besides infrastructure, is one of his most important personal missions as the president of the Republic of Serbia. "Under no circumstances will I give up the fight, and members of organized crime know that very well," Tadic said. Asked to comment the fact that his invitation to the regional countries to launch a joint fight against organized crime in Montenegro was taken as questioning of the country's statehood, Tadic said that these were provocations that came from one part of the Montenegrin politicians. "This kind of terminology implying that Serbia jeopardizes the independence of Montenegro is always used when it is of some political use in Montenegro, for instance before elections. No one in Serbia intends to endanger Montenegro's independence," Tadic said and recalled that after the referendum on independence, he went to Montenegro, accepted the results of the referendum and gave them full legality. He underscored that fight against organized crime is an area in which two states have to cooperate. "I do not accuse anyone in Montenegro or I have right to do something like that. I do not find it useful. I only ask for the standard of inter-state behavior to be honored in fight against organized crime," Tadic said. "EU candidate by end of year" When it comes to European integrations process, Tadic stated that it was possible that Serbia would become candidate for membership in the EU by the end of this or in the beginning of 2011, "if conditions to complete cooperation with the Hague Tribunal have been fulfilled by then". “Difficult reforms await us in the conditions of a serious, extremely difficult and painful economic crisis. But Serbia will succeed in its intentions, because its citizens have made their decision about Serbia’s membership in the EU, and nothing can prevent them from standing equally with all other European nations in terms of quality of life and standard,” the Serbian president concluded.

President urges compromise over Kosovo

"One is that (ethnic) Albanians in Kosovo do not wish to live under Serbia's sovereign roof, and the other reality is that Serbs in Kosovo do not wish to live under the sovereign roof of the so-called independent Kosovo".

For this reason, the president continued, a compromise and sustainable solution can only be reached by taking into account the interests of both sides.

"We are ready to, after the ICJ decision (on the legality of the UDI), reach compromise through dialogue," Tadić told the news agency.

He stressed that the tragic experience of the pogrom six years ago, launched by ethnic Albanians against Serbs in Kosovo, "is a warn to us that the danger of turning to violence in the Western Balkans region is still here".

"The situation is still very volatile. Lately, the freedom of movement of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija has improved somewhat, but the situation is not nearly sufficiently stable, while the living conditions for our compatriots are without a doubt worse that those found in any nation in the entire European continent. The Serb people in Kosovo are absolutely the most endangered people in modern day Europe," Tadić stated.

“Serbia does not accept and it does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, and it shall not recognize it, so there is no need for anyone to try to persuade us to do that, or blackmail us, because that is mission impossible,” the president stated.

Chain of organized crime has to be cut

Tadić also stated Serbia and all its institutions are determined to fight organized crime, which along with groups of hooligans, and terrorist groups of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, represents the greatest threat for the national security.

"The question arises whether Serbia will be a legal society in which all citizens will be protected, or it will be chronically hit by destabilization, crime and everything else that jeopardizes the legal order. I believe that we have no alternative policy and that the determined fight against organized crime is the responsibility of all top officials," Tadić said during his interview for Tanjug.

"Given that Serbia cannot allow spreading of organized crime, particularly drug trafficking which is the most harmful for social interests, the chain of crime has to be cut," Tadić said.

Tadić believes that the fight against organized crime, besides infrastructure, is one of his most important personal missions as the president of the Republic of Serbia.

"Under no circumstances will I give up the fight, and members of organized crime know that very well," Tadić said.

Asked to comment the fact that his invitation to the regional countries to launch a joint fight against organized crime in Montenegro was taken as questioning of the country's statehood, Tadić said that these were provocations that came from one part of the Montenegrin politicians.

"This kind of terminology implying that Serbia jeopardizes the independence of Montenegro is always used when it is of some political use in Montenegro, for instance before elections. No one in Serbia intends to endanger Montenegro's independence," Tadić said and recalled that after the referendum on independence, he went to Montenegro, accepted the results of the referendum and gave them full legality.

He underscored that fight against organized crime is an area in which two states have to cooperate.

"I do not accuse anyone in Montenegro or I have right to do something like that. I do not find it useful. I only ask for the standard of inter-state behavior to be honored in fight against organized crime," Tadić said.

"EU candidate by end of year"

When it comes to European integrations process, Tadić stated that it was possible that Serbia would become candidate for membership in the EU by the end of this or in the beginning of 2011, "if conditions to complete cooperation with the Hague Tribunal have been fulfilled by then".

“Difficult reforms await us in the conditions of a serious, extremely difficult and painful economic crisis. But Serbia will succeed in its intentions, because its citizens have made their decision about Serbia’s membership in the EU, and nothing can prevent them from standing equally with all other European nations in terms of quality of life and standard,” the Serbian president concluded.