Posted on 07/31/2006 7:18:27 AM PDT by kronos77
BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia will reject independence as a solution for Kosovo and continue to consider the province part of its territory, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said in comments published on Monday.
"The policy of Serbia would be to declare that Kosovo is part of Serbia. That's not empty rhetoric, but a constitutional-legal formula," Kostunica said in an interview with the liberal Serb daily Danas.
Such a step would create a Cyprus-style division in the Balkans if Kosovo Albanians clinch the independence diplomats say could come within six months.
"Serbia will reject a solution that takes Kosovo away from Serbia and, very importantly, will continue to consider Kosovo part of its territory," said Kostunica.
Legally part of Serbia, the majority Albanian province has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs drove out Serb forces accused of ethnic cleansing in a two-year war with separatist guerrillas.
The 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority is pushing for independence in direct talks that began in February with the mediation of U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
Western diplomats say the major powers see little alternative to independence, under European Union and NATO supervision for years to come. The West wants a decision at the U.N. Security Council within the year.
Serbia sees Kosovo as its "Jerusalem", still home to 100,000 Serbs and scores of centuries-old Orthodox churches.
But Kostunica distanced himself from the calls of some nationalists in Serbia for armed resistance if the major powers impose independence. Continued...
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
Finaly, Serbians are openly saying what they think.
In past 7 years Serbian officials were pretty quiet and letting time go by. Stupid move.
Nothing will develop except "Kosovo je Srbija" rhetoric, protests and a few minor incidents.
Did you noitice that they cited "10,000 Albanians" died? Such horse-pucky!
It's no so much what Serbs themselves say, it's what uncle Sam is willing to listen to.
The Serbs have to be salesman and offer more the the US then what the Albs are willing to ante up. Besides, right now, the US needs nominal 'muslim' allies for the time being.
You mean full capitulation on Kosovo, we're trying to sell something to an uninterested customer, especially one who has already made up their mind. Time to polish up them wingtips, iron out that power tie and get them pearly whites gleaming. It also wouldn't hurt to get a jar of Vaseline and a pack of cigarettes...
A few exclusive deals for US-owned businesses and we're good. Also, our support for the US-led War on Terror should be made much more clear. It's a tragedy that a bunch of terrorists and dope smugglers have more influence on Washington than Serbia.
No Kosovo trade-off for EU membership, says Kostunica
01.08.2006 - 09:46 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica has said Belgrade will not agree to Kosovo's independence even if this attitude should damage the country's EU prospects.
After the first face-to-face meeting between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian authorities on the future status of the province failed to produce any results last week, Mr Kostunica said international negotiators should not use Europe as a bargaining chip in the UN-
conducted talks.
"The argument of force is quite often on the side of the others, i.e. to certain parts in the international community, who tell us to give up on Kosovo for the sake of the EU integration process," Mr Kostunica told Belgrade's daily Danas.
He pointed out that EU membership conditions did not include "territorial concessions," adding, "Therefore, Serbia cannot be asked to do anything of the kind."
http://euobserver.com/9/22194
Well, in order to gain influence over a dishonest bunch Washington troglodytes I guess it does require a common thread of criminal understanding.
Oh do tell - who are these troglodytes?
Clinton era holdovers at State who somehow miraculously run the show behind the current administration's back?
LOL.
Well then be specific monty - it's not "politicians in general" who make foreign policy decisions.
No shit, really? My gosh you're amazingly stupid.
Why is that, huh Monty?
Hypocrites.
Mr. Kostunica is right. Kosovo rightfully belongs to the Serbs, not those murderous, drug-running thugs in the KLA.
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