Tadić: New status negotiations sooner or later

Boris Tadic says he will pursue Serbia’s united state policy at the UN SC on Friday and insist that Belgrade recognizes no form of Kosovo independence . In an interview with FoNet, the president said that he would point out that only the Security Council was responsible for UNMIK reconfiguration and that, sooner or later, the issue of new status talks would again be raised. Tadic: New status negotiations sooner or later “Only that UN institution has the power to conduct a reconfiguration of the international civil presence and not the UN secretary-general, as that does not come within his jurisdiction,“ said the president ahead of his journey to New York. He said that in the new circumstances, following “the proclamation of the so-called state of Kosovo,“ Serbia had to make certain strategic changes. “Not to change its united state policy, but to improve it. We’re not going to foresake our integrity, our territorial integrity in Kosovo, our people, our legitimate rights and property. We don’t wish the Albanians any harm, but we want to defend our legitimate interests,“ explained Tadic. In the president’s opinion, the united state policy which was created together with the now caretaker prime minister, will not undergo any serious alterations in the coming period, and will continue to require the consensus of political parties in Serbia. He said that, sooner or later, the issue of status talks would have to re-open. “Sooner or later, we’ll discuss a compromise solution,“ predicted Tadic, adding that the current solution for Kosovo was unrealistic and unsustainable. “Serbia will continue its legitimate struggle, but using peaceful and democratic means,“ the president stressed, adding that he did not expect the "so-called Kosovo constitution“ to be a subject of debate at Friday’s session. Asked about claims from certain quarters that he had breached the Serbian Constitution by sending a written response to Ban Ki-moon’s letter on UNMIK reconfiguration, he pointed out that Ban’s letter had been addressed to him personally as president. “Ban sent the letter to the president—in this case, me—and I reply to letters sent to me, and I’m responsible for the policies I pursue in letters and acts that I pass on to international envoys,“ explained Tadic. The president added that Acting Speaker Jovan Krkobabic did not have the power to alter parliament’s agenda in order to consider the Kosovo constitution, as the session’s agenda was stipulated by the Code of Procedure and the Constitution. Were he to change anything, he could be accused of breaking the law, said Tadic, adding that no-one could force anyone to break the law. He reiterated that parliament had already passed a ruling annulling not only the independence declaration, but all acts stemming from it. “I believe that everyone must respect the law, the prime minister and the president included, and no-one has the right to encourage anyone else to violate the Code of Procedure and the Constitution,“ said the president. Tadic added that in responding to the points in Ban’s letter, he had taken into account the position of all Serbs in Kosovo, whose plight was very serious. For this reason, the president said that he believed that the Kosovo Serbs should have their own legitimate representatives, and that this was no kind of counter-punch to "the so-called Kosovo constitution,“ he said. Boris Tadic (FoNet)

Tadić: New status negotiations sooner or later

“Only that UN institution has the power to conduct a reconfiguration of the international civil presence and not the UN secretary-general, as that does not come within his jurisdiction,“ said the president ahead of his journey to New York.

He said that in the new circumstances, following “the proclamation of the so-called state of Kosovo,“ Serbia had to make certain strategic changes.

“Not to change its united state policy, but to improve it. We’re not going to foresake our integrity, our territorial integrity in Kosovo, our people, our legitimate rights and property. We don’t wish the Albanians any harm, but we want to defend our legitimate interests,“ explained Tadić.

In the president’s opinion, the united state policy which was created together with the now caretaker prime minister, will not undergo any serious alterations in the coming period, and will continue to require the consensus of political parties in Serbia.

He said that, sooner or later, the issue of status talks would have to re-open.

“Sooner or later, we’ll discuss a compromise solution,“ predicted Tadić, adding that the current solution for Kosovo was unrealistic and unsustainable.

“Serbia will continue its legitimate struggle, but using peaceful and democratic means,“ the president stressed, adding that he did not expect the "so-called Kosovo constitution“ to be a subject of debate at Friday’s session.

Asked about claims from certain quarters that he had breached the Serbian Constitution by sending a written response to Ban Ki-moon’s letter on UNMIK reconfiguration, he pointed out that Ban’s letter had been addressed to him personally as president.

“Ban sent the letter to the president—in this case, me—and I reply to letters sent to me, and I’m responsible for the policies I pursue in letters and acts that I pass on to international envoys,“ explained Tadić.

The president added that Acting Speaker Jovan Krkobabić did not have the power to alter parliament’s agenda in order to consider the Kosovo constitution, as the session’s agenda was stipulated by the Code of Procedure and the Constitution.

Were he to change anything, he could be accused of breaking the law, said Tadić, adding that no-one could force anyone to break the law.

He reiterated that parliament had already passed a ruling annulling not only the independence declaration, but all acts stemming from it.

“I believe that everyone must respect the law, the prime minister and the president included, and no-one has the right to encourage anyone else to violate the Code of Procedure and the Constitution,“ said the president.

Tadić added that in responding to the points in Ban’s letter, he had taken into account the position of all Serbs in Kosovo, whose plight was very serious.

For this reason, the president said that he believed that the Kosovo Serbs should have their own legitimate representatives, and that this was no kind of counter-punch to "the so-called Kosovo constitution,“ he said.