Serbian President: Kosovo Independence Undermines International Law

May 30 2007 (LPAC)--Serbian President Boris Tadic met Italian Prime Minister Prodi and Foreign Minister D'Alema yesterday in Rome. At the end of the meeting with Prodi, Tadic declared that "Serbia does not consider as acceptable any form of independence of Kosovo. Serbia wishes integration in the EU and fights for a compromise solution which is acceptable for Belgrad and Pristina. Today, Serbia does not take part to negotiations on the future status of Kosovo. This process will move from Vienna to the UNSC. The issue will be also discussed at the next G-8 meeting. I told Prodi and D'Alema that Serbia is ready to sit at the negotiating table to find a solution that is acceptable to both parts and to find an integration of Serbia in the EU."

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Tadic warned that a Kosovo independence will undermine international law and ultimately western stability. "I would like to explain to those governments that only damages can come from a Kosovo independence, not only because it will destabilize western Balcans, but also because this choice by the international community will set a precedent. Kosovo independence is not only against our Constitution, but against international law as well. Ultimately, western interests will be challenged too. This is an additional reason why we will never accept it".

"Unfortunately, from the beginning in the negotiations on Kosovo's status, principles have been inserted that have made it impossible to achieve a solution and have reduced possibilities to find an alternative path. We think towards a substantial autonomy, under international supervision. It would be a political and economic independence of Kosovo Albanians, with the provision that Pristina is not allowed to have a UN seat, and the guarantee of maintaining connections between Kosovo Serbians and Serbia."