Opposition leaders take stand on Kosovo declaration

Opposition SNS party leader Tomislav Nikolic says the government's Kosovo declaration doesn't envisage concrete measures it will take to resolve the crisis. "We will have 200 votes in favor of the declaration, but we do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. What the police, the military and the Serbian shuttle diplomacy will do," Nikolic said at the Serbian parliament. Opposition leaders take stand on Kosovo declaration The SNS leader called on the Serbian government to ensure that Serbs from northern Kosovo be allowed to pass through the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings. He said he does not want for the responsibility for the pursuance of the Kosovo policy to be shifted to parliament. Opposition New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic said Saturday in parliament that all parties should support the draft declaration on the situation in Kosovo, regardless of the policy mistakes of the Serbian government. "You will always have our vote for Kosovo, even though we do not agree on a lot of things," Ilic said. He criticized the Serbian government, saying it was not able to solve problems in Kosovo in time and brought EULEX to the Serbian province. "We had an excellent position and a great capital in (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244, which was on the side of Serbs and protected the interests of Serbs and Serbia. EULEX in Kosovo is your doing. This parliament never debated this and never gave the green light for EULEX to enter Kosovo," Ilic said. He also said New Serbia will never consent to a border between Serbia and Kosovo and will always support the Serbian government in this. "We have to be united in order to do this in a dignified manner and with the support of our allies in the UN SC, and without giving in," he said. Ljubomir Kragovic of the opposition Serb Radical Party said Saturday at a session of the Serbian parliament that Serbia will lose Kosovo with its "Europe has no alternative" policy, adding the Kosovo issue should be brought back before the United Nations. "Why are you abusing 12 years of the fight for Kosovo. You will not enter Europe," Kragovic said, addressing Borislav Stefanovic, who previously reported on the situation in northern Kosovo and the talks with KFOR. Kragovic accused U.S. Ambassador in Pristina Christopher Dell and International Civilian Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith of giving consent for the violent operation of the Pristina authorities in northern Kosovo. According to him, EULEX is also responsible for the latest events in Kosovo. SRS whip Dragan Todorovic said the party does not support the Serbian government's policy, but will support the declaration so that Serbia's enemies “will not gloat” over the division within the Serbian people, adding that the government will take on full responsibility for the issue of Kosovo. (Tanjug)

Opposition leaders take stand on Kosovo declaration

The SNS leader called on the Serbian government to ensure that Serbs from northern Kosovo be allowed to pass through the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings.

He said he does not want for the responsibility for the pursuance of the Kosovo policy to be shifted to parliament.

Opposition New Serbia leader Velimir Ilić said Saturday in parliament that all parties should support the draft declaration on the situation in Kosovo, regardless of the policy mistakes of the Serbian government.

"You will always have our vote for Kosovo, even though we do not agree on a lot of things," Ilić said.

He criticized the Serbian government, saying it was not able to solve problems in Kosovo in time and brought EULEX to the Serbian province.

"We had an excellent position and a great capital in (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244, which was on the side of Serbs and protected the interests of Serbs and Serbia. EULEX in Kosovo is your doing. This parliament never debated this and never gave the green light for EULEX to enter Kosovo," Ilić said.

He also said New Serbia will never consent to a border between Serbia and Kosovo and will always support the Serbian government in this.

"We have to be united in order to do this in a dignified manner and with the support of our allies in the UN SC, and without giving in," he said.

Ljubomir Kragović of the opposition Serb Radical Party said Saturday at a session of the Serbian parliament that Serbia will lose Kosovo with its "Europe has no alternative" policy, adding the Kosovo issue should be brought back before the United Nations.

"Why are you abusing 12 years of the fight for Kosovo. You will not enter Europe," Kragović said, addressing Borislav Stefanović, who previously reported on the situation in northern Kosovo and the talks with KFOR.

Kragović accused U.S. Ambassador in Priština Christopher Dell and International Civilian Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith of giving consent for the violent operation of the Priština authorities in northern Kosovo.

According to him, EULEX is also responsible for the latest events in Kosovo.

SRS whip Dragan Todorović said the party does not support the Serbian government's policy, but will support the declaration so that Serbia's enemies “will not gloat” over the division within the Serbian people, adding that the government will take on full responsibility for the issue of Kosovo.