President: Serbia wants compromise over Kosovo

Serbian President Boris Tadic says that Serbia supports the actions of KFOR and EULEX in the north of Kosovo exclusively if they are aimed at combating crime. Another condition would be for the operation to be based on the "status-neutral mandate of the international missions". President: Serbia wants compromise over Kosovo Tadic told reporters in the town of Uzica in western Serbia that the country "received assurances from the international missions that today's action in the north is aimed precisely at fighting crime". If this is true, Belgrade has no basis for objection to that action, said Tadic. But he also stressed that it was unacceptable to insist on quick action against illegal oil and sugar trade in the north of Kosovo, while at the same time endlessly delaying the start of an investigation into the trade of body parts harvested from kidnapped Serbs. Tadic stated on Wednesday that the idea of Pristina - i.e., Kosovo Albanian institutions - establishing rule of law in northern Kosovo represents the ultimate level of hypocrisy, having in mind the fact that the said institutions themselves are not immune to the dealings of organized crime. He commented on the statement of Hashim Thaci, who today said that the "parallel" institutions in northern Kosovo were connected to "terrorism and backed by the Republic of Serbia". The president said this constitutes an announcement of violence and preparation for new violence. As he underscored, "the claims by certain regional leaders that point the same way constitute a part of the pressure aimed against Serbia but nevertheless, Belgrade will not react hastily or in a way that could contribute to incitement of a new crisis". The Citizens need to differentiate between the actions of international security institutions, which are aimed at countering organized crime, and the political announcements by Pristina institutions, which want to see new acts of violence and change the situation in northern Kosovo under the cloak of violence, Tadic stated. According to him, the Pristina institutions, which are unambiguously connected to the global organized crime network, can never hope for a possibility to set up rule of law in northern Kosovo. The idea that Pristina institutions should set up rule of law in northern Kosovo represents the ultimate form of hypocrisy, because the EU and any EU or U.S. official knows very well that Kosovo and primarily the Pristina institutions are not immune to the effects of organized crime, Tadic said. At the same time, it is Serbia's responsibility to counter crime in northern Kosovo-Metohija, and all criminals among Serbs in northern Kosovo need to be arrested, the president said. Boris Tadic in Uzice on Wednesday (Tanjug) "Compromise and integrity" Tanjug news agency also reports today that Tadic "sent a message to EU leaders" that Serbia will remain committed to the search for a compromise solution to the Kosovo issue and added that in this, the country was forced to be allies with the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence as well. "We need to consider carefully the international initiatives we decide to back," Tadic said reflecting on the Tuesday session of the UN Security Council. He stated that it would not be good for Serbia to back unsuccessful international initiatives and added that the country needs to support those that have a prospect for success. He noted it was unacceptable to insist on quick action against illegal oil and sugar trade in the north of Kosovo, while at the same time endlessly delaying the start of an investigation into the trade of body parts harvested from kidnapped Serbs. "We have different standards and Serbia needs to back international initiatives that aim to make those standards equal, instead of putting up with continuous international failures year after year," the president said. "We do not have large international support, which is the consequence of the wrong policy conducted in the 1990's, but we need to make alliances with the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence as well," Tadic pointed out. According to him, Serbia cannot renounce the policy of preservation of its territorial integrity at any cost, because this would imply both giving up on the international law and renouncing the future for the people of Serbia and their cultural identity in Kosovo. He said that his response to European partners was "quite simple" - Serbia is willing to look for a compromise solution to the Kosovo and Metohija issue. Tadic expressed belief that the solution needs to meet the interests of both sides, and added that there is enough room for everyone in Kosovo, but the legitimate national interests of the Serb community need to be taken into account as well. He underscored that the national interests of Serbs were never taken into account in international relations, which is why great efforts were invested over the past few years with a view to having the Serb interests legitimized again. "We are now about to reach the crucial point, that is the question as to whether the interests could be realized after they have been legitimized and whether Serbs would have their institutions in Kosovo within which they would feel safe, whether they would have a future within these institutions and whether the Serbian culture would be protected," Tadic said. According to him, institutions created by Kosovo Albanians in Pristina nowadays cannot guarantee security and survival of Serbs and Serbian identity in Kosovo and Metohija, and that this can be achieved by Serbian institutions alone. "This is no longer a matter of traditionally interpreted patriotism," asserted Tadic, and added that it was about a legitimate protection of basic national interests. A democratic and pro-European Serbia will not renounce this, he underlined. "This is why nobody in the EU can pose such conditions to Serbia," the president pointed out and added that the country will not take part in the dismantling of institutions that ensure the life of its people in Kosovo-Metohija, but will keep looking for a compromise and peaceful solution. "To polls with utmost pleasure" Boris Tadic, who is also leader of the ruling Democrats (DS) stated in Uzice on Wednesday that he will go to the next election with "utmost pleasure", because he and his party "did a lot of work in the previous period". Tadic told reporters that he and the DS achieved a lot of results, "unlike those who could come up as their as their political opponent". He added that the DS' opponents "neither have tangible deeds behind them nor did they achieve any good results in places they had governed".

President: Serbia wants compromise over Kosovo

Tadić told reporters in the town of Užica in western Serbia that the country "received assurances from the international missions that today's action in the north is aimed precisely at fighting crime".

If this is true, Belgrade has no basis for objection to that action, said Tadić.

But he also stressed that it was unacceptable to insist on quick action against illegal oil and sugar trade in the north of Kosovo, while at the same time endlessly delaying the start of an investigation into the trade of body parts harvested from kidnapped Serbs.

Tadić stated on Wednesday that the idea of Priština - i.e., Kosovo Albanian institutions - establishing rule of law in northern Kosovo represents the ultimate level of hypocrisy, having in mind the fact that the said institutions themselves are not immune to the dealings of organized crime.

He commented on the statement of Hashim Thaci, who today said that the "parallel" institutions in northern Kosovo were connected to "terrorism and backed by the Republic of Serbia".

The president said this constitutes an announcement of violence and preparation for new violence.

As he underscored, "the claims by certain regional leaders that point the same way constitute a part of the pressure aimed against Serbia but nevertheless, Belgrade will not react hastily or in a way that could contribute to incitement of a new crisis".

The Citizens need to differentiate between the actions of international security institutions, which are aimed at countering organized crime, and the political announcements by Priština institutions, which want to see new acts of violence and change the situation in northern Kosovo under the cloak of violence, Tadić stated.

According to him, the Priština institutions, which are unambiguously connected to the global organized crime network, can never hope for a possibility to set up rule of law in northern Kosovo.

The idea that Priština institutions should set up rule of law in northern Kosovo represents the ultimate form of hypocrisy, because the EU and any EU or U.S. official knows very well that Kosovo and primarily the Priština institutions are not immune to the effects of organized crime, Tadić said.

At the same time, it is Serbia's responsibility to counter crime in northern Kosovo-Metohija, and all criminals among Serbs in northern Kosovo need to be arrested, the president said.

"Compromise and integrity"

Tanjug news agency also reports today that Tadić "sent a message to EU leaders" that Serbia will remain committed to the search for a compromise solution to the Kosovo issue and added that in this, the country was forced to be allies with the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence as well.

"We need to consider carefully the international initiatives we decide to back," Tadić said reflecting on the Tuesday session of the UN Security Council. He stated that it would not be good for Serbia to back unsuccessful international initiatives and added that the country needs to support those that have a prospect for success.

He noted it was unacceptable to insist on quick action against illegal oil and sugar trade in the north of Kosovo, while at the same time endlessly delaying the start of an investigation into the trade of body parts harvested from kidnapped Serbs.

"We have different standards and Serbia needs to back international initiatives that aim to make those standards equal, instead of putting up with continuous international failures year after year," the president said.

"We do not have large international support, which is the consequence of the wrong policy conducted in the 1990's, but we need to make alliances with the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence as well," Tadić pointed out.

According to him, Serbia cannot renounce the policy of preservation of its territorial integrity at any cost, because this would imply both giving up on the international law and renouncing the future for the people of Serbia and their cultural identity in Kosovo.

He said that his response to European partners was "quite simple" - Serbia is willing to look for a compromise solution to the Kosovo and Metohija issue. Tadić expressed belief that the solution needs to meet the interests of both sides, and added that there is enough room for everyone in Kosovo, but the legitimate national interests of the Serb community need to be taken into account as well.

He underscored that the national interests of Serbs were never taken into account in international relations, which is why great efforts were invested over the past few years with a view to having the Serb interests legitimized again.

"We are now about to reach the crucial point, that is the question as to whether the interests could be realized after they have been legitimized and whether Serbs would have their institutions in Kosovo within which they would feel safe, whether they would have a future within these institutions and whether the Serbian culture would be protected," Tadić said.

According to him, institutions created by Kosovo Albanians in Priština nowadays cannot guarantee security and survival of Serbs and Serbian identity in Kosovo and Metohija, and that this can be achieved by Serbian institutions alone.

"This is no longer a matter of traditionally interpreted patriotism," asserted Tadić, and added that it was about a legitimate protection of basic national interests. A democratic and pro-European Serbia will not renounce this, he underlined.

"This is why nobody in the EU can pose such conditions to Serbia," the president pointed out and added that the country will not take part in the dismantling of institutions that ensure the life of its people in Kosovo-Metohija, but will keep looking for a compromise and peaceful solution.

"To polls with utmost pleasure"

Boris Tadić, who is also leader of the ruling Democrats (DS) stated in Užice on Wednesday that he will go to the next election with "utmost pleasure", because he and his party "did a lot of work in the previous period".

Tadić told reporters that he and the DS achieved a lot of results, "unlike those who could come up as their as their political opponent".

He added that the DS' opponents "neither have tangible deeds behind them nor did they achieve any good results in places they had governed".