Koštunica: Consultations with Russia

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica Monday condemned the use of force in Kosovska Mitrovica. He said he will lodge a strong protest with UNMIK over the violence against the Serbs in the northern Kosovo town, adding that consultations with Russia over a joint reaction are under way with the aim of the immediate halting of the violence against the Serbs. Kostunica: Consultations with Russia "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of force against Serbs protesting the establishing of a false state in the territory of Serbia. A part of the international community that is implementing the policy of force against Serbia, has chosen March 17 to apply physical force against the Serbs in the north of the province," Kostunica said in a statement sent to Tanjug. The mandate of the UN mission "is to prevent all forms of violence in Kosovo and Metohija, rather than to carry out violence against and the intimidation of the Serbs, and this is why we are protesting in the strongest possible terms," Kostunica said. He stated that "consultations with Russia have begun over a joint reaction so that all forms of violence against the Serbs should stop at once." Kostunica underscored that the UN Security Council is fully responsible to act in keeping with its Resolution 1244 to ensure the safety of the Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and that this is why it should undertake all the necessary steps immediately. Meanwhile, State Secretary in the Kosovo and Metohija Ministry, Dusan Prorokovic, from Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), said that Monday's raid by UNMIK and KFOR in Kosovska Mitrovica has shown that one set of standards apply to the Serbs in northern Kosovo, and another to the ethnic Albanians in the reminder of the province. "Unfortunately, we did not get to talk with the international factorS, and instead the brutal and excessive use of force by the UNMIK police and KFOR against unarmed Serb judges, prosecutors and other judicial staff," Proprokovic stated. He told reporters in a central Belgrade pedestrian zone, where the DSS youth was staging its campaign, "Kosovo is Serbia", that it is now important that the situation in Kosovska Mitrovica calms down and that a framework cooperation agreement is signed with UNMIK so that similar situations in the future are not resolved individually. Prorokovic recalled the developments of March 17, 2004, which were organized "to cleanse Serbs from central Kosovo and Metohija with the aim of destroying the remaining Serb cultural heritage." He underscored that Serbia expected talks with the international factor on "who ordered and carried out these crimes, and when they will be brought to justice, as these were criminal acts which resulted in several thousand refugees and several fatalities."

Koštunica: Consultations with Russia

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the use of force against Serbs protesting the establishing of a false state in the territory of Serbia. A part of the international community that is implementing the policy of force against Serbia, has chosen March 17 to apply physical force against the Serbs in the north of the province," Koštunica said in a statement sent to Tanjug.

The mandate of the UN mission "is to prevent all forms of violence in Kosovo and Metohija, rather than to carry out violence against and the intimidation of the Serbs, and this is why we are protesting in the strongest possible terms," Koštunica said.

He stated that "consultations with Russia have begun over a joint reaction so that all forms of violence against the Serbs should stop at once."

Koštunica underscored that the UN Security Council is fully responsible to act in keeping with its Resolution 1244 to ensure the safety of the Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and that this is why it should undertake all the necessary steps immediately.

Meanwhile, State Secretary in the Kosovo and Metohija Ministry, Dusan Proroković, from Koštunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), said that Monday's raid by UNMIK and KFOR in Kosovska Mitrovica has shown that one set of standards apply to the Serbs in northern Kosovo, and another to the ethnic Albanians in the reminder of the province.

"Unfortunately, we did not get to talk with the international factorS, and instead the brutal and excessive use of force by the UNMIK police and KFOR against unarmed Serb judges, prosecutors and other judicial staff," Proproković stated.

He told reporters in a central Belgrade pedestrian zone, where the DSS youth was staging its campaign, "Kosovo is Serbia", that it is now important that the situation in Kosovska Mitrovica calms down and that a framework cooperation agreement is signed with UNMIK so that similar situations in the future are not resolved individually.

Proroković recalled the developments of March 17, 2004, which were organized "to cleanse Serbs from central Kosovo and Metohija with the aim of destroying the remaining Serb cultural heritage."

He underscored that Serbia expected talks with the international factor on "who ordered and carried out these crimes, and when they will be brought to justice, as these were criminal acts which resulted in several thousand refugees and several fatalities."