Koštunica: Proposal means independence

Koštunica: Proposal means independence

"The draft resolution... more than clearly defines Kosovo as an independent state," the prime minister said and added that Kosovo "cannot be a special case," as it is mentioned in the draft resolution.

Koštunica further said relations between the Serbs and Albanians cannot be limited to the period from 1990-99, as it says in the proposed resolution, remarking that this was "senseless."

Underlining that he was speaking about "supervised autonomy," whereas Ahtisaari was talking about "supervised independence," Koštunica warned that "independence is something irreversible and a dangerous precedent for other countries."

Koštunica also said there would be “no trading or compensation for Kosovo-Metohija”, adding that EU membership cannot compensate for the loss of the province.

Speaking about the three-month negotiations in a bid to form a government, Koštunica said that the talks were conditioned by the situation in which Serbia was with the unsolved status of Kosovo and noted that long-lasting cabinet negotiations were “common in other countries as well,” the government reported on its web site.

Koštunica said that he believed that the newly formed government of Serbia will be stable and that parties that make up the cabinet will find ways to establish good cooperation, noting that he was “encouraged” after the first two government sessions.

The five principles presented in his keynote address in Serbian parliament “simply oblige the government to work in that way”, Koštunica stressed and added that feudalization, i.e., monopoly of certain parties over some of public administration sectors “will not be possible”.

Speaking about the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Koštunica said that finalizing that cooperation meant “there was no need for him to promise that anyone will be arrested”.

It is necessary to locate the remaining indictees, including Ratko Mladić, arrest them and transfer them to the court at The Hague, the Serbian Prime Minister said.