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PanARMENIAN.Net
Serbia warns of a set of retaliatory measures
26.12.2007 12:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serbia plans to adopt a set of
retaliatory measures against Western states if they
recognize Kosovo's independence, including the
possibility of severing diplomatic ties with the
United States and EU countries, officials said.
Belgrade also said it rejects the idea of an EU
mission in Kosovo until the breakaway province's
status is resolved.
On Wednesday, the parliament will debate a
strongly-worded resolution proposed by the government
that will bind Serbian officials never to accept
Kosovo's independence.
Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have pledged to proclaim
independence early next year, and the U.S. and several
EU states have indicated they would recognize it.
Serbia, backed by Russia, insists that Kosovo, a
province of 2 million people that is 90 percent ethnic
Albanian, should remain part of its territory.
The European Union agreed earlier this month to send a
1,800-member mission to Kosovo to replace the current
system in the province, which has been run by the U.N.
and NATO since the 1999 war between Serbs and
separatist ethnic Albanians.
But the Serbian government resolution, which will
almost certainly be adopted by the
nationalist-dominated parliament, said that the EU
mission would not be welcome before Kosovo's final
status is determined at the UN Security Council, where
Russia could veto any decision not favorable to
Belgrade.
"The sending of the proposed EU mission ... would be
an act which jeopardizes the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and the constitution of the Republic of
Serbia," the resolution says. The document says that
Serbia must "reconsider" diplomatic ties with Western
countries that recognize Kosovo's statehood. It adds
that because of NATO's alleged support for Kosovo's
independence, Serbia must remain outside the Western
military alliance.
The resolution, apparently drafted by Serbia's
conservative Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, also
said that the planned signing of a pre-membership
trade and aid deal with the EU in January "must be in
the function of preserving the country's sovereignty
and territorial integrity." `Deployment of
peacekeepers in Kosovo will result in formation of a
puppet state on the Serbian land,' he said.
Kostunica's ruling party has earlier demanded that the
signing of the so-called Stabilization and Association
Agreement with the EU be conditioned with the bloc
agreeing that Kosovo is Serbia's integral part, the AP
reports.
Serbia warns of a set of retaliatory measures
26.12.2007 12:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serbia plans to adopt a set of
retaliatory measures against Western states if they
recognize Kosovo's independence, including the
possibility of severing diplomatic ties with the
United States and EU countries, officials said.
Belgrade also said it rejects the idea of an EU
mission in Kosovo until the breakaway province's
status is resolved.
On Wednesday, the parliament will debate a
strongly-worded resolution proposed by the government
that will bind Serbian officials never to accept
Kosovo's independence.
Ethnic Albanians in Kosovo have pledged to proclaim
independence early next year, and the U.S. and several
EU states have indicated they would recognize it.
Serbia, backed by Russia, insists that Kosovo, a
province of 2 million people that is 90 percent ethnic
Albanian, should remain part of its territory.
The European Union agreed earlier this month to send a
1,800-member mission to Kosovo to replace the current
system in the province, which has been run by the U.N.
and NATO since the 1999 war between Serbs and
separatist ethnic Albanians.
But the Serbian government resolution, which will
almost certainly be adopted by the
nationalist-dominated parliament, said that the EU
mission would not be welcome before Kosovo's final
status is determined at the UN Security Council, where
Russia could veto any decision not favorable to
Belgrade.
"The sending of the proposed EU mission ... would be
an act which jeopardizes the sovereignty, territorial
integrity and the constitution of the Republic of
Serbia," the resolution says. The document says that
Serbia must "reconsider" diplomatic ties with Western
countries that recognize Kosovo's statehood. It adds
that because of NATO's alleged support for Kosovo's
independence, Serbia must remain outside the Western
military alliance.
The resolution, apparently drafted by Serbia's
conservative Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, also
said that the planned signing of a pre-membership
trade and aid deal with the EU in January "must be in
the function of preserving the country's sovereignty
and territorial integrity." `Deployment of
peacekeepers in Kosovo will result in formation of a
puppet state on the Serbian land,' he said.
Kostunica's ruling party has earlier demanded that the
signing of the so-called Stabilization and Association
Agreement with the EU be conditioned with the bloc
agreeing that Kosovo is Serbia's integral part, the AP
reports.