DSS urges govt. to reject “Brussels’ ultimatum”

BELGRADE The Serbian government should reject Brussels’ ultimatum that is aimed at taking Kosovo away from Serbia, says the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) whip. At a rally dubbed “Never in NATO” in downtown Belgrade on Sunday, Slobodan Samardzic said that the 1999 bombing campaign had caused great material and moral damage to the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ) and Serbia. DSS urges govt. to reject “Brussels’ ultimatum” He stressed that two main messages were “never in NATO” and “do not forget”. Samardzic added that the “worst thing is that the process continues year after year in the form of taking Kosovo away from Serbia”. “Our country gave a chance to the EU after the tragedy so we could reach some reconciliation and move forward. In the early 2000s, the entire state, including the majority of the population, was ready to head toward the EU but it was quickly visible that they had returned to the crime scene,” the DSS official noted. “Just a few years later it was clear that their original plan, to take Kosovo away, has remained until today,” he added. “Today we are almost near the end of a tragic process for this country but we believe that the act and plan will never be carried out. The government has an enormous responsibility to reject the Brussels ultimatum and this is a basic goal so we could pay our respects to victims whom we cannot mourn if we give Kosovo away,” Samardzic explained. He added that citizens needed to be united and to condemn what had happened in 1999 and what was still happening as a continuation of that policy. The DSS whip also warned the government not to sign any agreements that would secure that “we would never again be able to return to Kosovo because only that way we have a chance to preserve Kosovo and the entire state”. Today marks 14 years since NATO started its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. Slobodan Samardzic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

DSS urges govt. to reject “Brussels’ ultimatum”

He stressed that two main messages were “never in NATO” and “do not forget”.

Samardžić added that the “worst thing is that the process continues year after year in the form of taking Kosovo away from Serbia”.

“Our country gave a chance to the EU after the tragedy so we could reach some reconciliation and move forward. In the early 2000s, the entire state, including the majority of the population, was ready to head toward the EU but it was quickly visible that they had returned to the crime scene,” the DSS official noted.

“Just a few years later it was clear that their original plan, to take Kosovo away, has remained until today,” he added.

“Today we are almost near the end of a tragic process for this country but we believe that the act and plan will never be carried out. The government has an enormous responsibility to reject the Brussels ultimatum and this is a basic goal so we could pay our respects to victims whom we cannot mourn if we give Kosovo away,” Samardžić explained.

He added that citizens needed to be united and to condemn what had happened in 1999 and what was still happening as a continuation of that policy.

The DSS whip also warned the government not to sign any agreements that would secure that “we would never again be able to return to Kosovo because only that way we have a chance to preserve Kosovo and the entire state”.

Today marks 14 years since NATO started its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.