April 01, 2007

KiM Info Newsletter 01-04-07

President Tadic called personally by phone Bishop Teodosije to express his solidarity with the monks after the attack on the Monastery

President Tadic sharply condemns rocket attack on Visoki Decani Monastery

"It is the responsibility of KFOR and UNMIK to protect Serbs and the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo from extremists who are threatening and intimidating the Serbian people and clergy," said the Serbian president. He emphasized that these acts of terrorism are not contributing to the calming of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija but are instead contributing to a rising of tension and causing even greater fear among the Serbs

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade
Saturday, March 31, 2007 18:45

President Tadic and Bishop Teodosije
Decani Monastery, Feb 2005
(pfoto KIM -Info) click to enlarge

Serbian president Boris Tadic has sharply condemned the rocket attack on Visoki Decani Monastery and called on Kosovo officials to prevent attacks on Serbian churches and monasteries, sources in the president's cabinet told Tanjug.

Following the rocket attack on the monastery, President Tadic spoke by phone with UNMIK deputy chief Steven Schook, whom he asked to ensure security for the Serbian people, clergy, churches and monasteries.

President Tadic also discussed the situation in Kosovo and Metohija by telephone with the abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, Bishop Teodosije.

The President warned that March 17, 2004, when most of the (remaining) Serbian holy shrines were torched, must not be repeated.

President Tadic said that he opposes the independence of Kosovo and Metohija because such a future status of the Province would also give radical extremists the right to expel the remaining Serbs.

Coordinating Center appeals to protect Serbian holy shrines and human lives in Kosovo and Metohija

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade
Friday, March 30, 2007 11:33

The Serbian Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija has issued a powerful appeal to the international community, and especially to UN and NATO bodies in Kosovo and Metohija, to effectively and quickly protect human lives and Serbian holy shrines which are again, following last night's mortar-grenade attack on Decani, brutally endangered, advised the Serbian Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija in a statement.

The terrorist attack on the 14th century Serbian Visoki Decani Monastery is a warning to all that terrorist groups are working unhindered throughout Kosovo and Metohija. As well, it represents a warning that attests to the readiness of terrorists to use artillery to destroy the historical, spiritual and cultural monuments of the Serbian people in the attempt to eradicate every trace of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, says the statement. What is especially worrisome and frightening is that these terrorists are also endangering the lives of monks and nuns.

The Coordinating Center underscores that there have already been several mortar-grenade attacks on the monastery and that no one has been held accountable. So far not one terrorist has been caught, let alone tried.

At the same time, the Coordinating Center appeals to the media informing the public regarding this terrorist to act not to diminish, consciously or implicitly, the seriousness of the attack.

"We ask that media transmit correct information and not hide the fact that Decani was targeted with artillery, i.e. with mortar-grenades," says the statement.

A powerful explosion was heard at 1 a.m. last night not far from Visoki Decani Monastery in Kosovo and Metohija. No one was hurt in the incident.

Bishop Teodosije, abbot of Visoki Decani Monastery, has stated that the monastery was targeted with a mortar-grenade, most probably for the purpose of frightening and sending a threatening message to the monks and KFOR forces. It is well know that this area is full of armed extremist groups.

It is too early to talk about other details and we expect KFOR members to issue an official communiquĂŠ, carry out a thorough investigation and find the perpetrators of this terrorist attack on the monastery, said Bishop Teodosije.

Members of Italian KFOR protecting the monastery began a search for the perpetrators immediately after the explosion.

Visoki Decani Monastery, dating back to the 14th century, has been attacked with mortar-grenades four times since 1999, including this latest attack.

Since June 1999 23 mortar-grenades have fallen in the vicinity of the monastery.

In addition to an attack on March 17, 2004 the monastery has been targeted with artillery two other times since the arrival of KFOR forces: in February 2000 with six mortar-grenades and in June 2000 with nine mortar-grenades.

The perpetrators of these attacks have never been found and brought to justice.

Bishop Teodosije about the attack on Visoki Decani Monastery

"If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the roof of the church or one of the housing buildings, it is certain that the material damage would be great and there could have even been casualties or wounded. This suggests that all of should take this case very seriously," said Bishop Teodosije

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade
Saturday, March 31, 2007 19:13

Bishop Teodosije (click to enlarge)

Members of KFOR have detained two civilians who were close to the location from where a rocket-propelled grenade was launched at Visoki Decani Monastery at the time when the monks found the projectile on Friday, said Bishop Teodosije of Lipljan, abbot of the monastery.

"Representatives of the Kosovo Police Service have informed us that it is in their interest, too, to find the perpetrators; that this is an extremely sensitive time, especially because of the fact that Visoki Decani is under UNESCO protection; and they say that this has caused great damage not only to the monastery but for all of them, too," said Bishop Teodosije.

The Bishop said that "we are left with the hope that the perpetrators will be found" but judging according to past experiences, it would not be surprising if those in this incident were not found, either.

Bishop Teodosije emphasized that the launching of the rocket-propelled grenade from a hand-held launcher at Visoki Decani Monastery was an act of terrorism and that it is clear that the target of the attackers was the church or monastic quarters. He reminded that since 1999 23 grenades have fallen in the monastery grounds and noted that the most recent explosion, which occurred on Friday, was closest to the church, a distance of barely 20 meters from it.

"If the rocket-propelled grenade had hit the roof of the church or one of the monastery buildings, it is certain that the material damage would be great and there could have even been casualties or wounded. This suggests that all of should take this case very seriously," said Bishop Teodosije.

He thinks that the intent of the attackers was to discourage the monastic brotherhood and frighten the Serbian people returning to Metohija. "The brotherhood is calm; it is not frightened because the Holy King Stefan of Decani has protected both the church and us from the very beginning. We believe this to be true and are in no way discouraged from our intent to remain in our holy shrine."

The Kosovo police has issued a statement that a rocket-propelled grenade fired from a hand-held launcher landed on the roof of the courtyard of Visoki Decani Monastery.

In the statement police also said that an empty frame from a single-use hand-held launcher was found in the forest (in the hills) above Visoki Decani Monastery yesterday around noon approximately one kilometer from the monastery.

Rocket propelled anti-tank grenade fired at the Decani monastery hit the wall 20 m from the church

March 30,2007

"Thelatest information proved that this was indeed a terrorist attack onVisoki Decani Monastery, which completely denies claims that it wasallegedly an explosion of a war-time land mine", said Bishop Teodosijeafter the remains of the grenade were found in the roof of themonastery wall. "The grenade was fired in direction of the altar partof the church and if by chance it had been fired higher above the wallit would have seriously damaged the famous Decani triple-window withreliefs from the 14th century or hit the monastic quarters" We expect the internatinal and Kosovo authorities to condemn this attack as a terrorist attack on a Christian shrine.

This morning (March 30 2007) at 01.10 a.m. the immediate vicinity of Visoki Decani Serbian Orthodox Monastery was rocked by a powerful blast which woke up the monastic brotherhood. The monks who were still awake, among them Bishop Teodosije, confirmed that they first heard a strange muffled sound, then a whiz which lasted about 2 seconds followed by a powerful blast in the very vicinity of the medieval monastery. According to the testimony of the monks the whizing sound came from the hill above the monastery from where it is believed that the grenade was launched. All the monks who remember the last mortar-grenade attack on Visoki Decani Monastery on March 17 riots in 2004 said that the sound and the explosion were very similar to those in the previous attack.

READ MORE:

- UNESCO world heritage site targeted by extremists again
- False information by Kosovo Police Service representative following incident near Decani Monastery
- Rocket propelled anti-tank grenade fired at the monastery hit the wall 20 m from the church

Serbs in Metohija (Western Kosovo) fear that the recent attack against Decani Monastery is not the last one

30.3.2007 12:47 OSOJANE (Tanjug) - Stojan Doncic, the President of the Association Stara Metohija, stated that around 3.500 Serb returnees, living in Metohija, are deeply scared and disturbed after the last nightâ mortar grenade blast in the near vicinity of the Monastery Visoki Decani.

âUnfortunately we are not in touch with the brotherhood of Visoki Decane, and we were made aware about the incident thought the media informationâ â stated Doncic adding that the Serbs in Metohija are deeply scared over the yesterdayâs incident.

Serb National Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija condemns attack on Visoki Decani Monastery

Radio KIM, Caglavica
March 30, 2007

Following the attack on Visoki Decani Monastery the Organization Committee of the Serb National Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija issued a communiquĂŠ concluding that nothing is holy to terrorists and that their goal is to create a complete feeling of insecurity among the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohija. The Organization Committee states that this is an act of terrorism and a clear message to the International Community that there is no room in Kosovo and Metohija for Serbian holy shrines, monuments under the protection of UNESCO, Serbian tradition and culture.

We expect executive officials to find the perpetrator of this crime, and representatives of international organizations and the provisional government in Kosovo and Metohija to condemn this act of terrorism. The Organization Committee appeals to all members of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija to remain dignified and calm in these difficult times, and not to fall prey to any sort of provocations.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS IS LARGERLY SILENT ABOUT THE ATTACK ON DECANI

Kosovo probes explosion at Serb monastery

UPI: March 30, 2007 at 1:41 PM

PRISTINA, Serbia, March 30 (UPI) -- An explosion near a monastery in Serbia's Kosovo province left the Serb Orthodox monks worried they were under sectarian attack.

The monks reported hearing a mortar shell about 1 a.m. Friday and NATO peacekeepers and Kosovo police searched to see where the device landed and exploded. There were no reports of injuries or damage, Belgrade's B92 radio said.

The Visoki Decani monastery is about 8 miles south of Pec in the western section of Kosovo.

The peacekeepers are in the province to guard against ethnic violence between the majority ethnic Albanians and Serbs ahead of a U.N. decision on whether Kosovo should become independent of Serbia.

The leader of the monks said he feared the incident marked an attack on the monastery and Serbs asked the U.N. civil mission and NATO troops to protect human lives and the Serb Orthodox church religious objects in Kosovo.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet soon to consider a U.N. plan giving Kosovo internationally supervised independence from Serbia, an idea strongly opposed by the Serbian government in Belgrade.

Peacekeepers report explosion near Serb Orthodox monastery in Kosovo

Associated Press: Friday, March 30, 2007 12:48 PM

PRISTINA, Serbia-NATO-led peacekeepers said Friday an explosion was heard near Kosovo's largest and best preserved medieval Serbian Orthodox monastery, but no damage or injuries were reported. The monastery's abbot said the blast was caused by a mortar.

Police and NATO peacekeepers were trying to locate the site of the explosion, which occurred shortly after midnight in the vicinity of the 14th Century Decane Monastery, the police and the alliance said. UNESCO designated the monastery as a World Heritage site in 2004, and the site is protected by NATO peacekeepers.

"Until now there has been no evidence an explosive device was targeting the Decane Monastery," the peacekeepers said in a statement. But Decane's vice abbot, Sava Janjic, said "it was mortar fire, not just an explosion."

"Maybe it was an individual act of violence, but it could also be a political message that the extremists are ready to use force to convince the international community that Kosovo will explode unless it is given independence," he said.

A U.N. plan for Kosovo's future, which has been delivered to the U.N.

Security Council and needs the council's approval to take effect, recommends Kosovo be granted supervised independence. The province's ethnic Albanian majority demands independence, while Serbia wants to keep Kosovo within its borders. Janjic warned there could be "more violence ... also targeting UNMIK (the U.N. mission in Kosovo) if no agreement is reached by June" on the province's status.

The compound has been attacked in the past, but it was spared the worst outbreak of violence in the aftermath of the 1998-99 war when ethnic Albanian mobs targeted the Serb minority and damaged or destroyed some 30 churches.

Kosovo, a province of Serbia, was placed under U.N. administration in 1999, after NATO air strikes ended a Serb crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians that left thousands killed.

OTHER KOSOVO RELATED NEWS

Kosovo Albanian hardliners rally for independence

31 Mar 2007 REUTERS

PRISTINA, Serbia, March 31 (Reuters) - Around 1,000 Kosovo Albanian hardliners rallied in the capital, Pristina, on Saturday to demand full and immediate independence from Serbia.

The protest passed peacefully, unlike in February when two ethnic Albanians died and dozens were injured in clashes between demonstrators and United Nations police.

The protesters reject a Western-backed plan drafted by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari, which offers Kosovo independence but provides for an open-ended period of European Union supervision and broad self-government for the 100,000 remaining Serbs.

Speakers called on the U.N. mission running Kosovo since 1999 to leave, and branded Kosovo Albanian leaders "traitors".

"Why don't they let us hold a referendum? Because they know the outcome,"

protest leader Glauk Konjufca told the crowd outside the Kosovo parliament.

Turnout was significantly down on previous protests by the same activists.

The southern Serbian province, 90-percent populated by ethnic Albanians, has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs drove out Serb forces accused of atrocities in a two-year war with Albanian separatist guerrillas.

Kosovo Albanian leaders have accepted the Ahtisaari plan, which is due to come before the U.N. Security Council next week.

It is backed by the United States and major EU members, but diplomats are concerned that continued Russian resistance could cause deadlock at the Council and trigger unrest in the impoverished province.

Washington wants a new U.N. resolution by June.

EU MEPs strongly back Martti Ahtisaari's proposal on Kosovo, call for it to be put under "supervised sovereignty"

External relations

Parliament gave its full support today to the Ahtisaari proposal for a status settlement, stating that "sovereignty supervised by the international community is the best option" for securing the objectives of a peaceful, self-sustaining Kosovo. The report also reaffirmed the European perspective of both Serbia and Kosovo, and called for the EU to play a central role in the current international negotiations for a settlement.

Members voted to fully support the UN-led drive to determine the final status of Kosovo, and to the Ahtisaari Proposal in particular. Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish President, was the UN Special Envoy charged with devising a plan for the status settlement of Kosovo. His proposal, released early last month, would give Kosovo some of the trappings of sovereignty, such as rights to membership in international organisations, but does not advocate outright independence. The own-initiative report by Joost Lagendijk (Greens/EFA, NL), adopted by an overwhelming majority in the House on Thursday 29 March (490 in favour to 80 against with 87 abstentions) spelled out several desirable aspects of a settlement:

- access to international financial organisations

- an international presence in Kosovo, with a clear definition of its role and mandate

- clear provisions on decentralisation which grant substantial autonomy in key areas

- full respect for human rights

- retention of Kosovo's multi-ethnic character, with protection for cultural and religious sites

- the establishment of a limited, internal, multi-ethnic Kosovar Security Force

- international guarantees for the territorial integrity of all neighbouring states

International implications

Addressing fears, especially in Russia, that granting Kosovo any form of independence would exacerbate other separatist tensions around the globe, the report "underlines that the solution in Kosovo will set no precedent in international law, as Kosovo has been under UN rule since 1999 [...and] is in no way comparable to the situation in other conflict regions which are not under UN administration."

In addition, the House is of the view that "in the long run, the solution regarding the future status of Kosovo lies also in the fact that both Serbia and Kosovo are due to become part of the EU, together with their neighbours, since the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union."

The EU's role

The report emphasises that the EU Member States should speak with one voice on the Kosovo issue, by adopting a common position in Council, and maintaining it in international fora, especially the UN Security Council.

The Parliament also argued that "the European Union should have a decisive say on the final terms of the settlement." MEPs also called for a visa facilitation agreement for Kosovo, to ease access for travel into the European Union.

Finally, the report stated that "the EP is prepared to make available the additional resources required in order to finance the future EU involvement in Kosovo with a view to implementing the status settlement." The report also expressed the Parliament's support for the establishment of an ESDP (European Security and Defence Policy) mission to Kosovo.

EU States Forge Face-saving Compromise On Kosovo Plan

DPA 09:40 PM, March 30th 2007

European Union foreign ministers Friday forged an eleventh hour face-saving compromise allowing all 27 states to rally around a United Nations proposal for supervised independence for Kosovo.

Overcoming opposition to the UN blueprint by Slovakia, Spain and Greece, EU ministers meeting in Bremen, Germany, agreed to press for the rapid adoption of a UN Security Council resolution on the future status of breakaway Serbian territory.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier insisted the UN resolution should "respect the legitimate interests" of both Serbia and Kosovo.

Kosovo's Albanian majority has accepted the UN proposal hammered out by former Finnish Prime Minister Martti Ahtisaari but Serbia has rejected independence for Kosovo as a breach of international law and a violation of its sovereignty.

Diplomats said the EU promise to take account of Belgrade's interests in the forthcoming UN Security Council debate on Kosovo had helped overcome opposition to the Ahtisaari proposals from Slovakia, Spain and Greece.

All three countries are wary of quasi-independence for Kosovo, fearing this could trigger demands for similar treatment by other disputed territories and minority groups in Europe.

Several EU states have also voiced concern that support for supervised independence in Kosovo will further strain the bloc's relations with Belgrade.

Brussels has frozen negotiations with Serbia on a new cooperation pact following Belgrade's failure to deliver fugitive war crimes suspects to the international tribunal in The Hague.

Opposition to Ahtisaari's proposals has also come from veto- wielding Security Council members Russia and China.

However, most EU states, including Germany - currently in charge of the EU presidency - have come out firmly in favour of the UN plan as essential for stability in Europe and in the western Balkans.

"Stability and security in Kosovo is vital for Europe's security interests," said Steinmeier.

Backing the UN plan, EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn also insisted Ahtisaari's blueprint - also fully supported by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon - would foster the building of a "democratic, multi- ethnic society in Kosovo, based on the rule of law."

A statement by Germany released after talks in Bremen said all EU states agreed that a new Security Council resolution "must provide the framework for the implementation of the status solution, in particular the civilian and military international presence overseeing implementation."

It promised that the EU would work "actively and in a united fashion" in the Security Council and vowed "strong support for the Serbian people's quest for a European future."

"We will try to find ways to allow for more young people from the region, including from Serbia, to visit our countries," said the statement, adding that the EU would work on a "more liberal visa regime" for Serbs and other nationals from the western Balkans.

Ministers in Bremen also endorsed a report on Kosovo drawn up by EU chief diplomat Javier Solana and Rehn, calling for increased international aid for the territory.

Highlighting the EU's "special responsibility" in Kosovo, the report said EU funds for the territory would have to be backed up by help from other nations.

As such, the international community needed to ensure that sufficient resources are available, said Solana and Rehn.

No specific amounts were mentioned but Rehn told the European parliament this week that Kosovo would require international grants worth about 1.5 billion euros for the first three years after achieving quasi-independence.

These funds will be needed to cover Kosovo's share of foreign debt run up by the former Yugoslavia, the cost of implementing Kosovo's new status, economic development needs and payments for the EU's planned police mission in the territory.

The European Commission has already earmarked 200 million euros in aid to Kosovo for the coming three years. However, others must share the responsibility, said Rehn.

The report also promised that Kosovo will be offered a trade and association pact with the EU on the lines of similar deals being negotiated with other states in the western Balkans.

Under the supervised independence plan, Kosovo will be run by a so-called International Civilian Office led by a EU special representative who will be "double-hatted" as the international envoy.

The EU will also deploy up to 2,000 personnel in the territory to take on police and judicial tasks. The report said the EU mission would have "executive powers" in both areas to deal with the prosecution of organized crime, inter-ethnic strife, border issues as well as crowd and riot control.

NATO's current 16,000-strong force in Kosovo will, however, also remain in the territory to ensure security.

Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999 after NATO drove out Serb security forces accused of repressing ethnic Albanians who form 90 per cent of the population.

EU fails to endorse Kosovo independence plan

SERBIANNA, USA March 30, 2007 3:07 PM

BREMEN, Germany-The European Union on Friday failed to muster unanimous support for a contentious plan to grant partial independence to Serbia's Kosovo province, but officials said reservations by three countries would not derail the plan, which now heads for a vote in the U.N. Security Council.

"There are still some hesitations" about granting Kosovo internationally supervised independence, said Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel after an EU foreign ministers meeting.

Slovakia, Romania and Greece were not yet ready to approve the proposal to grant the province of two million people, 90 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians, internationally supervised statehood and elements of independence including its own army, flag, anthem and constitution.

Diplomats downplayed the significance of these reservations, saying it was crucial to win UN Security Council endorsement for the plan, drafted by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari.

"We are dependent on an agreement in the Security Council," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said outside a meeting of the 27 EU foreign ministers.

Ahtisaari's plan faces an uncertain future in the Security Council. Russia supports Serbia, which wants the province to remain within its borders, and has implied it could use its veto power in the council if Belgrade's interests are not addressed.

Reservations within the EU about cutting Kosovo loose from Serbia have long been rooted in fears of setting a precedent for other independence-minded areas in Europe.

EU foreign affairs chief Javier Solana and Olli Rehn, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, briefed the EU foreign ministers on the significant financial and security challenges facing Kosovo if it achieves internationally supervised statehood.

They asked for sustained EU financial and technical support for Kosovo in the years ahead in areas such as security, the economy and political reforms.

The two have previously warned the Balkans could again be engulfed in violence akin to the wars in the 1990s during the breakup of Yugoslavia unless the future status of Kosovo is resolved quickly.

"It is of vital importance to the EU and the security of Europe," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeir said. "It is our neighborhood, a top priority for us."

Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since NATO launched airstrikes in 1999 to halt a Serb crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanian rebels.

About 200,000 people are believed to have perished in a series of wars sparked by the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The conflicts, which spread from Slovenia to Croatia, Bosnia and finally Kosovo, cost the international community an estimated US$110 billion dollars, two-thirds of which was paid directly or indirectly by EU member nations.

The EU is planning a 2,000-strong mission for Kosovo, the largest the EU has ever had. After Kosovo's final status has been determined, the EU team will move in to assist local authorities in developing autonomous institutions, police and judiciary and ensure the rights of minorities are observed. The EU also wants to prepare Kosovo for closer ties with the 27-member bloc.

Solana and Rehn have estimated that Kosovo will need international aid of up to âŹ1.5 billion (US$2 billion) in the first three years after the final status of the Serb province is determined. The money will be needed to cover Kosovo's share of the Yugoslav debt, the cost of implementing Kosovo's status, economic development and an international military and civilian presence.

EU split on Kosovo independence plan

Xinhua: Friday, March 30, 2007 6:47 PM

BERLIN, Mar 30, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Foreign ministers of the 27-member European Union failed on Friday to reach consensus on a United Nations proposal for Kosovo's supervised independence.

Slovakia, Spain and Greece, who feared that independence of Kosovo will trigger demands for similar treatment by other minority groups in Europe, are opposed to the proposal raised by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari.

Serbia rejected the proposed independence of Kosovo sought by Albanian majority in the Serbian republic. Foreign ministers from several EU members told the meeting that they also worried Ahtisaari's plan will further strain relations with Serbia.

However, the ministers agreed to press for a rapid adoption of a UN Security Council resolution on the proposal, which is also opposed by Russia and China.

The EU foreign ministers welcomed the opening of talks on a new resolution in New York. In the Security Council, the EU will present its joint position on Kosovo in an "active and united manner," said a press release following their meeting on Friday.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon submitted early this week to the Security Council the proposal for a Kosovo status settlement. Ahtisaari recommended that Kosovo's independence be supervised for "an initial period" by the European Union with NATO military forces and the European police.

Ban Ki-moon, submitting the proposal to the UN Security Council, said the recommendations had his full support.

Germany, which holds the EU presidency, supports the plan. The EU "strongly supports" the proposal, a statement issued Monday by the German EU presidency said.

"His proposal for a Kosovo status settlement is designed to foster the building of a multi-ethnic, democratic society in Kosovo based on the rule of law," the statement said.

After 11 hours of heated discussion on Friday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the UN resolution should " respect the legitimate interests" of both Serbia and Kosovo.

"The Kosovo status settlement marks the final act in the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," he said during the press conference late Friday.

"Not until this outstanding issue in the Balkans is resolved can we achieve lasting political stability and economic development in the region," he said.

Kostunica to present Serbia's stands on future status of Kosovo in UN Security Council session on April 3

Source: Government of Serbia
Date: 30 Mar 2007

Belgrade, March 30, 2007 - The state negotiating team for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija decided in a meeting today that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica would present Serbia's positions on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija in UN Security Council session on April 3.

In a meeting that was presided over by President Boris Tadic, members of the team agreed that intensive diplomatic activities should be continued in order to defend Serbia's state interests in Kosovo-Metohija.

The negotiating team also discussed reports on activities of its members in a meeting March 10 in Vienna.

It was concluded that in the course of numerous meetings, members of the negotiating team disputed both the UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's Comprehensive Proposal for Kosovo Status Settlement and its accompanying report, which was recently submitted to UN Secretary General.

The meeting looked at further concrete moves of the negotiating team to be taken following the upcoming UN Security Council session, scheduled for April 3.

The state negotiating team condemned numerous terrorist acts committed by ethnic Albanian extremists in the last few days in Kosovo-Metohija and warned all who are responsible for maintaining peace and order in the province that such incidents must not be disregarded, but instead all necessary measures be taken to prevent them and discover and punish the perpetrators, reads the statement.

Romania opposes Kosovo independence

SERBIANNA (USA)

March 30, 2007 -- Romania is not changing its well-known position that the Kosovo status solution should be in accordance with basic principles of international law which must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, inalterability of borders and individual rights for national minorities, said Romanian President Trajan Basesku.

Basesku said that the Romanian Supreme Defense Council determined the Romanian stand for the meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Bremen, where a heated debate is expected after the European Parliament adopted the resolution on Kosovo.

European Parliament passed a resolution yesterday in support of a "supervised independence" of Kosovo province. MPs of the European Parliament with 490 votes in favor, 80 against and 87 abstaining votes, passed the resolution proposed by Dutch MP Jost Lagendijk.

Commenting on the EU resolution, Serbian Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Milan Parivodic said that the only body that can handle the status of Kosovo is the UN Security Council and that the EU document bears no importance because it has no mandate for that issue.

Parivodic characterized statements by American and British Ambassadors in Belgrade that negotiations on Serbia's admission in the EU should stop until Serbia recognizes Kosovo's independence as unbalanced and unproductive.

Serbian Prime Minister has repeated in the past that an exchange of Serbian territory for EU membership is unacceptable.

Serbian Foreign Ministry blamed the Albanian side for failed Belgrade-Pristina negotiations on the future Kosovo status and assessed that it is surprising that some countries, which advocate the rule of law, sided with rule of violence in the dispute of the two sides. Using ultimatums, threats of violence and terrorism, Kosovo Albanians are off the hook to proclaim an independent state of Kosovo on the territory of the Serbian state, the Ministry stated.

In a protest rally in Banja Luka, Bosnian Serbs demanded that Republika Srpska Parliament immediately arrange a referendum to separate the Republic from the Bosnian union. Potential Kosovo independence would open the unstoppable process towards independence of the Serbian entity in Bosnia as well as the Croatian part of Bosnia, said Dane Cankovic, President of the Serbian National Movement that arranged the protest.

The Contact Group that will likely decide the outcome of the status of Kosovo met yesterday in London and the British Foreign Office characterized that meeting as a routine one because it involved directors of sectors for the Balkans of foreign ministries and not the foreign ministers, which is what the US hoped for. The decision of the Contact Group will likely be accepted by the UN Security Council.

Of 15 UN Security Council member states, five support Ahtisaari's proposal - USA, Great Britain, France, Belgium and Panama and two oppose it - Russia and China. Although the remaining countries in the Security Council - Italy, Qatar, Congo, Slovakia, Ghana, Peru, South African Republic and Indonesia have expressed serious reserves towards Ahtisaari's document for various reasons, it does not mean they will vote against it.

More News Available on our:
Kosovo Daily News list (KDN)
KDN Archive

Earlier Newsletters can be found at: http://www.kosovo.net/erpkiminfo.html
Photo Galleries of the March pogrom are available at: http://www.kosovo.net/pogrom.html

Our Information Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The main focus of the Info-Service is the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian community in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija.

Disclaimer:
The views expressed by the authors of newspaper articles or other texts which are not official communiquĂŠs or news reports by the KIM Info-Service are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Translations from local media, reflect personal opinions of individual authors, or opinions of organizations that released the text(s). Please contact the copyright holders for reprinting rights and objections. KIM Info-service is not responsible for accuracy of translated texts, except in case of its own statements and news.

This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material.

Additional information on the Church and the life of the Kosovo Serb Community may be found at: http://www.kosovo.net

If you want to unsubscribe go to the page: http://www.kosovo.net/erpkiminfo.html

Copyright 2006, KIM Info-Service