Vučić "expects to find solution" with Serbs

BELGRADE, KOSOVSKA MITROVICA First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday in Belgrade that he expects a deal with north Kosovo Serbs regarding the Brussels agreement. "I expect that we will agree and find a solution with the Serbs from northern Kosovo and present a united front as we always did," Vucic said after granting the decorations to members of the Defense Ministry and the army on the occasion of Army Day. Vucic "expects to find solution" with Serbs "Neither we can manage without our own people, nor our people can do without their Serbia," Vucic said. Serbs in northern Kosovo yesterday rejected the Brussels agreement and instead urged that a referendum be held on the deal. Speaking about the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, Vucic noted that Serbia could not achieve better or more in such extremely difficult circumstances "for countless reasons." He then added: "One of the reasons is that Serbia did not have real allies, as it is only becoming a country that would have an influence equal to the one of countries in the region, but it will create conditions to preserve the state and national interests more easily in the future." Addressing the speculation that Government Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin may resign over the deal, Vucic said he was "almost certain" that this will not happen, as Vulin would "remain a part of the team that will work in the interests of the citizens of Serbia." "I am almost certain, but I am not Aleksandar Vulin. I spoke with him several times, I will try again today, and he will announce his decision, whatever it is, today or tomorrow," the minister said. (Tanjug, file) "Implementation crucial" Minister of Justice and Public Administration Nikola Selakovic stated on Monday that the Brussels agreement is providing Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija with security, stressing that its implementation is crucial at the moment. “The crucial thing is the implantation of the agreement. We have to embark on the implementation of these solutions urgently,” Selakovic told B92 on Tuesday. Selakovic said that "one of the greatest achievements of the tentative agreement is that the future Kosovo security forces will not enter north Kosovo, which will provide Serbs with security." “Without this and the agreement, Serbs might be again expelled from the province as in March 2004. This is the way to ensure security. The bad side of the agreement in the area of justice is the Kosovo justice system, since the Kosovo laws will have to be implemented,” Selakovic said. The minister said that the document introduces a great change in the manner of resolution of problems particularly from the perspective of Serbs in Kosovo. “I believe that we have reached the spot from where we can have a much greater contribution to the improvement of status, resolution of problems of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and operation of the Serb institutions in Kosovo,” Selakovic said. Serbs reject Brussels deal Serbs in northern Kosovo on Monday rejected the Brussels agreement, and called for a referendum in which all Serbian citizens would voice their opinion regarding it, and adopted a declaration on the formation of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija at Monday's protest in Kosovska Mitrovica. The declaration reads that the agreement that was reached in Brussels and approved by the Serbian government earlier on Monday is illegitimate and invalid and that "the people living in Kosovo and Metohija will not allow its implementation, as that would mean coming under the rule of the false state of Kosovo." The declaration reads that by signing the agreement, Serbia would give up on its right to Kosovo and Metohija, and not only to its institutions. It adds that "the Serb people will not allow the implementation of the agreement" and that a direct answer to detrimental effects of this forced agreement would be acting in line with the Constitution, which was also confirmed in the referendum. Zvecan Mayor Dragisa Milovic said that Belgrade's negotiating team delivered the decision on behalf of Kosovo Serbs, but that they were not asked what they think about that, underscoring that Serbs do not need any other state, as they already have Serbia. "No one has the right to push us into some unrecognized state of Kosovo contrary to our will, our interests and the Constitution. This was an opportunity for someone from the negotiating team and the government to address the people and say whether this agreement is in keeping with the Constitution, Platform that was drafted by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Resolution that was passed by the parliament," Milovic said. No Serb official from Kosovo was present at the last round of talks, when the agreement was initialed, Milovic added, calling on Serbian citizens to offer support so that Kosovo remains a part of the state of Serbia, while Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic said that no one could take away Serbia from Kosovo Serbs, as "it belongs to that people, and not to upstarts in Belgrade". "We will not accept Kosovo institutions, we do not want to vote in their elections, we do not want their personal documents," Ristic said, urging all those who have such documents that were not issued by the state of Serbia to tear them up. B92 Beta Tanjug

Vučić "expects to find solution" with Serbs

"Neither we can manage without our own people, nor our people can do without their Serbia," Vučić said.

Serbs in northern Kosovo yesterday rejected the Brussels agreement and instead urged that a referendum be held on the deal.

Speaking about the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Priština, Vučić noted that Serbia could not achieve better or more in such extremely difficult circumstances "for countless reasons." He then added:

"One of the reasons is that Serbia did not have real allies, as it is only becoming a country that would have an influence equal to the one of countries in the region, but it will create conditions to preserve the state and national interests more easily in the future."

Addressing the speculation that Government Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin may resign over the deal, Vučić said he was "almost certain" that this will not happen, as Vulin would "remain a part of the team that will work in the interests of the citizens of Serbia."

"I am almost certain, but I am not Aleksandar Vulin. I spoke with him several times, I will try again today, and he will announce his decision, whatever it is, today or tomorrow," the minister said.

"Implementation crucial"

Minister of Justice and Public Administration Nikola Selaković stated on Monday that the Brussels agreement is providing Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija with security, stressing that its implementation is crucial at the moment.

“The crucial thing is the implantation of the agreement. We have to embark on the implementation of these solutions urgently,” Selaković told B92 on Tuesday.

Selaković said that "one of the greatest achievements of the tentative agreement is that the future Kosovo security forces will not enter north Kosovo, which will provide Serbs with security."

“Without this and the agreement, Serbs might be again expelled from the province as in March 2004. This is the way to ensure security. The bad side of the agreement in the area of justice is the Kosovo justice system, since the Kosovo laws will have to be implemented,” Selaković said.

The minister said that the document introduces a great change in the manner of resolution of problems particularly from the perspective of Serbs in Kosovo.

“I believe that we have reached the spot from where we can have a much greater contribution to the improvement of status, resolution of problems of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and operation of the Serb institutions in Kosovo,” Selaković said.

Serbs reject Brussels deal

Serbs in northern Kosovo on Monday rejected the Brussels agreement, and called for a referendum in which all Serbian citizens would voice their opinion regarding it, and adopted a declaration on the formation of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija at Monday's protest in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The declaration reads that the agreement that was reached in Brussels and approved by the Serbian government earlier on Monday is illegitimate and invalid and that "the people living in Kosovo and Metohija will not allow its implementation, as that would mean coming under the rule of the false state of Kosovo."

The declaration reads that by signing the agreement, Serbia would give up on its right to Kosovo and Metohija, and not only to its institutions.

It adds that "the Serb people will not allow the implementation of the agreement" and that a direct answer to detrimental effects of this forced agreement would be acting in line with the Constitution, which was also confirmed in the referendum.

Zvečan Mayor Dragiša Milović said that Belgrade's negotiating team delivered the decision on behalf of Kosovo Serbs, but that they were not asked what they think about that, underscoring that Serbs do not need any other state, as they already have Serbia.

"No one has the right to push us into some unrecognized state of Kosovo contrary to our will, our interests and the Constitution. This was an opportunity for someone from the negotiating team and the government to address the people and say whether this agreement is in keeping with the Constitution, Platform that was drafted by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Resolution that was passed by the parliament," Milović said.

No Serb official from Kosovo was present at the last round of talks, when the agreement was initialed, Milovic added, calling on Serbian citizens to offer support so that Kosovo remains a part of the state of Serbia, while Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić said that no one could take away Serbia from Kosovo Serbs, as "it belongs to that people, and not to upstarts in Belgrade".

"We will not accept Kosovo institutions, we do not want to vote in their elections, we do not want their personal documents," Ristić said, urging all those who have such documents that were not issued by the state of Serbia to tear them up.