Koštunica calls for "strength to protect Serbia"

BELGRADE If Serbia as a nation had the strength to win its freedom on Oct. 5, it should also find the strength now to protect its core national and economic interests. This is according to the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica, who spoke on the anniversary of the change of regime in Serbia on October 5, 2000. Kostunica calls for "strength to protect Serbia" Kostunica defeated Slobodan Milosevic in elections held on September 24 that year and became the president of Yugoslavia, to then serve for two terms as Serbia's prime minister in the decade that followed. "Unfortunately, it is true that all great western powers continued the project to dissolve Serbia even after October 5. It is obvious that to them Serbia is still too big and should be made smaller at any cost," said Kostunica. "An attempt to steal Kosovo and turn Serbia into a federal state through the unconstitutional Statute of Vojvodina is under way. It means that as a country, we have to find the right national policy to protect the national interest," Kostunica wrote in an op-ed published by the Belgrade-based Press tabloid. "As a country and as a nation, we can be free if, besides the military neutrality, we also declare Serbia politically neutral," Kostunica believes. According to him, a politically neutral Serbia is a free Serbia that cares for its economic and national interest. "The spirit of October 5 is also the spirit of cooperation, and a politically neutral Serbia should cooperate with all countries on an equal basis," he noted. "Serbia won internal freedom on October 5, and that is a great advantage, which it should preserve," he stressed. Vojislav Kostunica (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Koštunica calls for "strength to protect Serbia"

Koštunica defeated Slobodan Milošević in elections held on September 24 that year and became the president of Yugoslavia, to then serve for two terms as Serbia's prime minister in the decade that followed.

"Unfortunately, it is true that all great western powers continued the project to dissolve Serbia even after October 5. It is obvious that to them Serbia is still too big and should be made smaller at any cost," said Koštunica.

"An attempt to steal Kosovo and turn Serbia into a federal state through the unconstitutional Statute of Vojvodina is under way. It means that as a country, we have to find the right national policy to protect the national interest," Koštunica wrote in an op-ed published by the Belgrade-based Press tabloid.

"As a country and as a nation, we can be free if, besides the military neutrality, we also declare Serbia politically neutral," Koštunica believes.

According to him, a politically neutral Serbia is a free Serbia that cares for its economic and national interest.

"The spirit of October 5 is also the spirit of cooperation, and a politically neutral Serbia should cooperate with all countries on an equal basis," he noted.

"Serbia won internal freedom on October 5, and that is a great advantage, which it should preserve," he stressed.