These talks should lead to a compromise solution in the foreseeable future that will ensure institutional protection for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian Government believes that finding a solution for the institutional protection of Serbs in the province would contribute to their gaining their truly legitimate representatives in the provisional institutions of Kosovo and Metohija. As well, the Serbian Government is convinced that this is also the best way to overcome the existing situation and enable the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

Conclusion of Serbian Government on the Kosovo and Metohija Assembly elections adopted Oct. 28, 2004

Serbian original at http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/dokumenti_sekcija.php?id=13842

In accordance with Article 29 of the Law on the Serbian Government
("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", numbers 5/91 and 45/93)
the Serbian Government hereby adopts the following

CONCLUSION ON THE KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

I. Proceeding from previous decisions relating to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, first and foremost, the decisions passed by the Serbian National Assembly and the Serbian Government after the violence on March 17, 2004, as follows:

- Resolution of the Serbian National Assembly dated March 26, 2004
- Serbian Government Plan for the political solution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija dated April 29, 2004
- Decision of the Serbian National Assembly ratifying the Plan for the political solution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija dated April 29, 2004
- Government Report on the implementation of the Plan for the political solution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija submitted to the National Assembly on July 29, 2004
- Conclusion of the Serbian Government on the continuing implementation of the Plan for the political solution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija dated October 7, 2004

and following the elections held on October 23, 2004 in which a negligible number of Serbs and other non-Albanians voted, the Serbian Government expresses its readiness to continue seeking the best solution for the existing situation.

II. The Serbian Government proposes the following to all interested political factors in Kosovo and Metohija, the rest of the country, and the international community:

1.  That talks on decentralization resume as soon as possible on the basis of three documents: the Decision of the Serbian National Assembly, the Serbian Government Plan for the political resolution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and UNMIK's Framework for local self-government. These talks should lead to a compromise solution in the foreseeable future that will ensure institutional protection for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

2. That a solution be found for the institutional protection of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, which would contribute to their gaining their truly legitimate representatives in the provisional institutions of Kosovo and Metohija.

III. The Serbian Government once again expresses its conviction that this is the best way to overcome the existing situation and enable the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

IV. This conclusion is to be forwarded to the Serbian president, the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija of the Serbian Assembly, all ministries and special organizations, and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro.

05 Number: 02-7276/2004
In Belgrade, October 28, 2004