PM's adviser: Legal means include war

Prime minster's adviser Aleksandar Simic says that there is still no solution to the Kosovo crisis anywhere in sight. Simic, an adviser to Vojislav Kostunica and a Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) official, said that Serbia would defend Kosovo by using all the means it had at its disposal. PM's adviser: Legal means include war "When someone fails to respect the Security Council, the only body that ought to react in times when there is a threat of aggression and war, particularly when someone does not observe Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and the resolution that was adopted in line with it, then there is nothing else a country can do," Simic said late on Tuesday, in a live broadcast on the Serbian state television RTS. Asked what was missing in Serbia’s daily claims that it would fight for Kosovo using all legal and political means, he replied that war was also a legal means, when no other options remained. “Serbia has had negative experiences from certain armed clashes during the civil wars in the former Yugoslavia, and this is why we are more prudent and cautious now, but, of course, state interests are defended by war as well,” Simic stressed. Meanwhile, President Boris Tadic's Democratics (DS), who are a part of the ruling coalition along with the DSS, has called Simic’s comments irresponsible and dangerous. “At a time when Serbia has pledged itself as a factor of peace and stability in the negotiating process, Simic, in his role as prime ministerial adviser, comes out with these menacing, dangerous comments that jeopardize Serbia’s position before the Security Council, sending the message that warmongering was being conducted in Serbia,” reads a DS statement. The statement goes on to say that Simic is clearly not aware of the fatal consequences of the wartime policies that drove Serbia to fighting for Kosovo. Simic was previously in the media spotlight when he caused a diplomatic scandal earlier this year, with his statements about Montengro and its people. The Kostunica adviser called the neighboring country "a quasi state", which brough relations between Podgorica and Belgrade to the lowest level.

PM's adviser: Legal means include war

"When someone fails to respect the Security Council, the only body that ought to react in times when there is a threat of aggression and war, particularly when someone does not observe Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and the resolution that was adopted in line with it, then there is nothing else a country can do," Simić said late on Tuesday, in a live broadcast on the Serbian state television RTS.

Asked what was missing in Serbia’s daily claims that it would fight for Kosovo using all legal and political means, he replied that war was also a legal means, when no other options remained.

“Serbia has had negative experiences from certain armed clashes during the civil wars in the former Yugoslavia, and this is why we are more prudent and cautious now, but, of course, state interests are defended by war as well,” Simić stressed.

Meanwhile, President Boris Tadić's Democratics (DS), who are a part of the ruling coalition along with the DSS, has called Simić’s comments irresponsible and dangerous.

“At a time when Serbia has pledged itself as a factor of peace and stability in the negotiating process, Simić, in his role as prime ministerial adviser, comes out with these menacing, dangerous comments that jeopardize Serbia’s position before the Security Council, sending the message that warmongering was being conducted in Serbia,” reads a DS statement.

The statement goes on to say that Simić is clearly not aware of the fatal consequences of the wartime policies that drove Serbia to fighting for Kosovo.

Simić was previously in the media spotlight when he caused a diplomatic scandal earlier this year, with his statements about Montengro and its people. The Koštunica adviser called the neighboring country "a quasi state", which brough relations between Podgorica and Belgrade to the lowest level.