REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DAILY SURVEY
Belgrade, 23. 07. 2008.
CONTENT:
SERBIA – ICTY INDICTEE KARADZIC ARRESTED / REACTIONS
- CVETKOVIC INVITES REMAINING FUGITIVES TO SURRENDER
- DACIC: KARADZIC'S ARREST IS PART OF "POWER TAKEOVER"
- LJAJIC: POLITICAL WILL TO COOPERATE WAS ALWAYS THERE
- VEKARIC: KARADZIC MIGHT BE EXTRADITED NEXT WEEKEND
- CERTAIN THAT MLADIC AND HADZIC WILL ALSO FACE ICTY
- SOLANA: ARREST WATERSHED IN FULFILMENT OF CONDITIONS
- U.S. & EU WELCOME KARADZIC'S ARREST
- MOSCOW: KARADZIC ARREST INTERNAL SERBIAN AFFAIR
- BAN KIMOON HAILS KARADZIC ARREST AS HISTORICAL MOMENT
- BRAMMERTZ CONGRATULATES SERBIAN GOV'T
- DAVIS SAYS KARADZIC'S ARREST IS WONDERFUL NEWS
- REGION WELCOMES KARADZIC CAPTURE
- LAJCAK: BEGINNING OF END TO TRAGIC PART OF BOSNIAN HISTORY
- DODIK: KARADZIC ARREST TAKES BURDEN OFF RELATIONS
- DODIK REJECTS ACCUSATIONS FROM SARAJEVO POLITICIANS
SERBIA - EU
- JEREMIC: SERBIA WANTS EU CANDIDATE STATUS BY MID-2009
- JEREMIC & REHN: SUCCESSFUL DAY FOR SERBIA'S FUTURE IN EU
- REHN: INTERIM DEAL BETWEEN EU, SERBIA SHOULD BE ACTIVATED
- EU COUNCIL SAYS THIS IS IMPORTANT PHASE FOR SERBIA
- Kouchner: Decision on Interim Agreement possible by end July
SERBIA – Cyprus
- OPPONENTS OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES
- JEREMIC: CYPRUS CONFIRMS IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
- CVETKOVIC EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO KYPRIANOU
KOSOVO – METOHIJA
- FRIED: NORTHERN KOSOVO SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER CONTROL
- PRISTINA MINIMIZES IMPORTANCE OF ZANNIER'S VISIT TO BELGRADE
SERBIA – ICTY INDICTEE KARADZIC ARRESTED / REACTIONS
CVETKOVIC INVITES REMAINING FUGITIVES TO SURRENDER
BELGRADE, July 22 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic invited the remaining two fugitives from the ICTY to surrender voluntarily and voiced his expectation that the ICTY would hold fair trials and treat equally all persons indicted for war crimes. "One of the main principles applied when this government was formed was the principle of observation of international law. By observing our obligations towards the ICTY we observe both domestic and international law," Cvetkovic said in a statement sent to media. "The state of Serbia has made a big step and I invite the remaining fugitives from the ICTY to surrender voluntarily, which would be much better both for them and for the Serbian people," Cvetkovic said. He said that the observation of international law was a universal principle and its observation would make possible reconciliation in the region and ensure Serbia's basis for a better life and more efficient defence of its soveriegnty and territorial integrity on the foundations of international law. After the arrest, ICTY is still looking for Mladic and Hadzic.
DACIC: KARADZIC'S ARREST IS PART OF "POWER TAKEOVER"
BELGRADE, July 22 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told that the arrest of Karadzic is a part of power takeover in Serbia and the legacy of the previous government, and that it has nothing to do with the fact that the SPS entered the new government. The handing over of Karadzic and earlier Stojan Zupljanin are part of the transfer of power and therefore the Socialists should not allow themselves to be subject of political manipulations and that the arrests be brought in connection with their entering the new government, Dacic said in an interview with the national news agency. Dacic said that the SPS, because of the wrong assessment that the arrest of the former Bosnian Serb leader havs something to do with the Socialists' joining the Serbian government, will request that all circumstances under which Kardzic was arrested be considered. "I do not want to undermine the importance and role of new BIA Director Sasa Vukadinovic, but I do not believe that the arrest of Karadzic is result of his four-day work in the office, but I rather see that as a part of the office takeover and legacy of the previous Serbian government," Dacic said. He also thinks that it is important and necessary to acquaint the public with information about the duration of Karadzic's stay in Serbia under control of the security services.
LJAJIC: POLITICAL WILL TO COOPERATE WAS ALWAYS THERE
BELGRADE, July 23 (Tanjug) - President Rasim Ljajic of the Serbian National Council for Cooperation with ICTY in The Hague said that the arrest of Karadzic demasked the taboos that there is no political will in Serbia to cooperate with that court. The political will for cooperation with The Hague Tribunal existed earlier as well, both when Vojislav Kostunica was prime minister and during the mandate of the former govenment, Ljajic said in a broadcast RTS. The accusations that Serbia is not ready to cooperate were unjust and unfounded, since Serbia has so far extradited 44 indictees to the ICTY, Ljajic pointed out. In the past period, Serbia was constantly subjected to pressure and accusations by non-governmental organizations, international representatives, and the ICTY itself, who all alleged that the Serbian authorities knew the whereabouts of the key indictees but were not ready to extradite them, Ljajic said. These stereotypes cannot remain following the arrest of Karadzic, he stressed. "Serbia is not a refuge for indictees or a place where war criminals are hiding," Ljajic said, but underscored that he expects greater responsibility in the processing and punishing of those who committed crimes on other sides.
VEKARIC: KARADZIC MIGHT BE EXTRADITED NEXT WEEKEND
BELGRADE, Jul 22 (Tanjug) - Former Republic of Srpska president Karadzic might be extradited to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia next weekend, spokesman of the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office Bruno Vekaric told. He could not specify the date, as it depends on the deadlines for deciding on the appeal announced earlier in the day by Karadzic's lawyer Svetozar Vujacic for Friday, July 25, the last day of the deadline for appeal. The Belgrade District Court will then have three days to decide on the appeal, Vekaric said, noting that a final decision on extradition must be signed by the Justice Ministry. Karadzic was arrested near Belgrade late on Monday, while he was moving from one place of residence to another, and was interrogated Monday night by Investigative Magistrate at the Belgrade War Crimes Chamber Milan Dilparic, who adopted a decision on the fulfilment of preconditions for his extradition to the Tribunal and decision on detention. The ICTY charges Karadzic with genocide, involvement in genocide, liquidations, killings, punishment, deportation, inhumane acts and other crimes against Muslims, Croats and other non-Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war in the former Yugoslav republic.
CERTAIN THAT MLADIC AND HADZIC WILL ALSO FACE ICTY
BELGRADE, July 22 (Tanjug) - Director Dusan Ignjatovic of the Serbian Goverment Office for Cooperation with the ICTY said that it is quite certain, following the arrest of Karadzic, that the remaining two indictees of ICTY who are still at large will also be taken before that court. "Now that the most important ICTY indictee at large has been arrested, with only Mladic and Hadzic remaining, it will be difficult for anyone from the international or home public to say that Serbia is not cooperating with The Hague Tribunal," Ignjatovic said. So far, 42 indictees have been transferred to the Tribunal, and there is no reason for the remaining two not to surrender, he said. Ignjatovic said that Karadzic's arrest itself had come as a surprise, but pointed out that he could not speak about the details of the locating and arrest of Karadzic because "certain other actions must not be placed in jeopardy."
SOLANA: ARREST WATERSHED IN FULFILMENT OF CONDITIONS
BELGRADE, July 23 (Tanjug) - Javier Solana has said that the arrest of Karadzic marks a watershed in the fulfilment of conditions for Serbia to move forward in its integration with Europe. The EU will immediately consider vwhat conclusions it should draw from this positive development, Solana said. He hopes that the readiness demonstarted by the Serbian government in connection with the cooperation with ICTY in The Hague will enable its prosecutor to announce that this cooperation is proceeding in a good direction, the Belgrade daily Blic said in an interview with the high representative published on Wednesday. With the arrest of Karadzic, the Serbian authorities have shown that they fully cooperate and intend to continue cooperating with the ICTY.The EU welcomes that, and expects the process to continue, that every possible effort will be invested in finding the two remaining ICTY indictees who are still at large, Solana told. The fact that the ratification of the SAA with the EU is the top priority of the new government presents an important sign and is in favor of the future partnership between the EU and Serbia. The EU has a strong wish that Serbia should move forward, Solana said, adding that he hopes that moment will soon come. Asked whether he thinks it is possible for Serbia to become a member of the EU by the 2014, he replied that he certainly hopes so, but said that admission to the EU is in any case long and difficult.
U.S. & EU WELCOME KARADZIC'S ARREST
BELGRADE, July 22 (Beta) - The U.S. and the EU countries have praised the arrest of Radovan Karadzic as a big step of the new Serbian government, which will be a turning point in relations with the EU, while Moscow believes that the delivery of the former Bosnian Serb leader to the Hague tribunal is Serbia's internal matter.The White House announced that Karadzic's arrest is "an important demonstration of the Serbian government's resolve to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia," stressing that "there is no better way to repay the victims of war than by bringing the perpetrators of crimes to justice." European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the arrest of wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is a very important contribution to the process of reconciliation in the Western Balkans. Barroso underscored that this "very positive outcome shows the determination of the new Serbian government to achieve full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal."The foreign ministers of most EU member countries agreed that Karadzic's arrest is a turning point in relations with Serbia. British Foreign Minister David Milliband said that Karadzic's arrest is "a very important step for the entire Western Balkans and for Serbia's relations with the international community." German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier announced that "with this brave step, Serbian President Boris Tadic has highlighted Serbia's European determination." The Netherlands said that the arrest of one of the most wanted Hague tribunal indictees is "a big step forward" for Belgrade, adding that "it remains to be seen what the consequences will be regarding relations between the EU and Serbia." The president of France, currently holding the rotating EU presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that "this long expected arrest clearly demonstrated the will of the new government in Belgrade to bring Serbia closer to the EU."
MOSCOW: KARADZIC ARREST INTERNAL SERBIAN AFFAIR
MOSCOW, July 22 (Beta) - The trial of Radovan Karadzic must be "impartial," the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, accusing the international court of often being biased. The arrest of Radovan Karadzic, charged before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, is solely an internal Serbian affair, the announcement said.
BAN KIMOON HAILS KARADZIC ARREST AS HISTORICAL MOMENT
New York, July 22 (Beta) - U.N. Secretary General Ban Kimoon applauded the arrest of ICTY war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic, hailing it as "a historical moment for the victims." "This is a historical moment for the victims who have been waiting 13 years for Karadzic to face justice," Ban Kimoon said in a statement released by his press service in New York. The Serbian Council for National Security reported late on July 21 that former Bosnian Serb leader and ICTY suspect Radovan Karadzic had been arrested. The ICTY unsealed an amended and supplemented indictment against Karadzic on Oct. 14, 2002.The new 11count indictment charges Karadzic with genocide and being an accomplice to genocide, crimes against humanity, violations of the laws and customs of war.
BRAMMERTZ CONGRATULATES SERBIAN GOV'T
Hague, July 22 (Beta) - Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz has welcomed Karadzic's arrest and congratulated the Serbian authorities, describing the event as "a key achievement in cooperation with the Hague tribunal." Brammertz delayed his visit to Belgrade, where he was to arrive on July 22, after the Serbian authorities announced they have arrested Karadzic, his representative Olga Kavran said. Instead of visiting Serbia, Brammertz will carefully monitor information from Belgrade, in anticipation of Karadzic's pending transfer to The Hague. He was due to arrive on a "regular" visit to Belgrade, during which he was to meet with the officials of the newlyformed Serbian government in charge of cooperation with the tribunal. The chief prosecutor said that today, July 22, "is also very important for the victims, who waited more than a decade for the arrest." "It is also a very important day for international justice, because it clearly shows that no one is outside of the law's reach and that sooner or later all fugitives will be brought to justice," he highlighted.
DAVIS SAYS KARADZIC'S ARREST IS WONDERFUL NEWS
STRASBOURG, July 22 (Beta) - CoE General Secretary Terry Davis has welcomed the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, describing it as "wonderful news." Davis said that the Hague tribunal indictee's arrest "will significantly boost the Serbs' image in Europe.""That man is responsible for some of the worst human rights violations in Europe in the past 60 years," says a news release by Terry Davis, who also voiced satisfaction with the fact that the arrest was carried out "just a week after the anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre."
REGION WELCOMES KARADZIC CAPTURE
BELGRADE, July 22 (Beta) - All Serbia's neighbors have welcomed the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, mostly stating that it served to prove the European capacity of the new government of Serbia and the European perspective of the entire region. The largest number of reactions, immediately after the news of Karadzic's arrest broke, came from Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the former Bosnian Serb leader had lived and acted politically until his escape. Karadzic was indicted before the Hague tribunal for genocide in Bosnia. "This is a big day for Bosnia and Herzegovina and a big day for justice," Zeljko Komsic, a member of the Bosnian Presidency, told BETA. Nikola Spiric, head of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, said Karadzic's arrest "confirms a European future and perspective of the region." Bosnian Presidency chairman Haris Silajdzic said the capture of Karadzic provided "at least some satisfaction to the families of the victims" and that "the entire international community has the obligation to erase the consequences of the genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, not only to apprehend Karadzic and Mladic."Montenegrin Premier Milo Djukanovic welcomed Karadzic's capture, stating it would benefit Serbia and the whole region. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said the arrest of the most wanted fugitive before the Hague tribunal was a great step for the current authorities in Serbia, while Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor stated that it was "excellent news" and that it showed the new Serbian government's determination to cooperate with the Hague tribunal, but also to continue on the path toward the European Union. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said the long awaited arrest, which must be followed by a just trial in The Hague, was an important step in achieving closure for the tragic period in the recent history of the West Balkans.
LAJCAK: BEGINNING OF END TO TRAGIC PART OF BOSNIAN HISTORY
BANJA LUKA, July 22 (Beta) - High Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina Lajcak said that the news that Karadzic had been arrested was very positive for Bosnia and the entire region. Although two other fugitives, Mladic and Hadzic, are at large, it is clear that this is the beginning of the end to the most tragic chapter of Bosnian history, Lajcak stated. He briefly added that "today's arrest proves that justice catches up with everyone."
DODIK: KARADZIC ARREST TAKES BURDEN OFF RELATIONS
BANJA LUKA, July 22 (Tanjug) - Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik has said that the arrest of Karadzic is an obligation that Serbia has toward the ICTY in The Hague, and that Serbian organs carried out the action in a good way, opening the doors to European integrations for Belgrade. The RS stand that every person accused of war crimes by The Hague Tribunal must answer before that court is familiar, Dodik pointed out. "The arrest of Radovan Karadzic has removed the pressure that has been exerted against the RS authorities for years, and it should not be expected that scores are settled with the RS through this arrest, as some have already announced following the report about his arrest, because Karadzic has individual responsibility," Dodik said. It is now clear that Karadzic was not in the RS and that all those who had been claiming this for years, pressuring the RS and punishing it, are now able to see that the RS could not have arrested Karadzic because he simply was not here, Dodik said. Muslim war-time leader Izetbegovic would also have been in The Hague if he had not died, as the ICTY itself said, which shows that crimes were committed by all sides and that story will be covered in some other processes, he said. There will always be different meanings of justice in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dodik said, expressing the wish that all this should soon be over so that the RS could dedicate itself to other matters.
DODIK REJECTS ACCUSATIONS FROM SARAJEVO POLITICIANS
BELGRADE, July 23 (Tanjug) - Republika Srpska Prime Minister Dodik has opposed new attacks from politicians of the Muslim-Croat federation who advocate the thesis that Republika Srpska should be abolished as a creation of its former leader Karadzic who is accused of genocide. Speaking in a broadcast by Belgrade-based Serbian Radio Television RTS, Dodik pointed out that these "accusations from the politicians of Sarajevo are nothing new, since they take advantage of every opportunity to deny the very existence of Republika Srpska." "Radovan Karadzic has been accused. He still has not been charged, and only a court can establish someone's guilt," he said. Even if Karadzic were to be convicted, the RS cannot be abolished because ICTY in "The Hague conducts trials of persons with names and surnames, and there is no collective responsibility, nor was it possible at any point in history to put entire collectives on trial," Dodik said. According to Dodik, it is clear that the RS is not a genocidal creation of Radovan Karadzic, as Sarajevo officials wish to demonstrate, but it was in fact "created out of the needs of people, primarily Serbs, to create a certain political-territorial framework for their own protection during the time of the tragic disintegration of Yugoslavia." "That was legitimate, having in mind that other nations in the territory of the former Yugoslavia had precisely the same aspirations," Dodik said, pointing out that Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, later also Montenegro, and finally Serbia, got their own states.
SERBIA - EU
JEREMIC: SERBIA WANTS EU CANDIDATE STATUS BY MID-2009
BRUSSELS, Jul 22 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Brussels after meeting European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn that Serbia's goal is to get the status of candidate for European Union membership by the end of this year or in mid-2009 at the latest. This is an exciting and a very successful day for Serbia's future in Europe, Jeremic said. Serbia's goal is ambitious but possible, he said. Serbia will do everything to complete cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The new government was constituted only two weeks ago and did not take long to show full commitment for cooperation in ICTY, he said. Serbia is firmly committed to international law as regards both its cooperation with ICTY and defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the case of the future status of Kosovo, Jeremic said. The former government headed by Vojislav Kostunica was also fully committed to cooperation with ICTY, he added.
JEREMIC & REHN: SUCCESSFUL DAY FOR SERBIA'S FUTURE IN EU
BRUSSELS, July 22 (Tanjug) - European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn welcomed in Brussels Serbia's progress towards the European Union at a joint news conference with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who said that this was a very successful day for Serbia's European future. Speaking in Brussels, where the EU Council of Ministers is holding a session on Tuesday, Rehn said that he was very satisfied because the EU integration was such a high priority of the new government in Belgrade, to which he wished success in work. Jeremic said that he had had very meaningful talks with Rehn and EU foreign ministers on the topic of Serbia's EU future and reiterated that Belgrade had ambitious plans for EU candidacy by the end of the year or in the first half of 2009 at the latest. Asked if the latest developments in Belgrade would speed up the ratification of the SAA, whose most important political condition is full cooperation with the ICTY, Rehn said that this goal was certainly much closer today, because Karadzic's arrest was a turning point in Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY.
REHN: INTERIM DEAL BETWEEN EU, SERBIA SHOULD BE ACTIVATED
BRUSSELS, July 22 (Beta) - EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in Brussels that the interim trade agreement between the EU and Serbia should be made effective, given that by arresting Karadzic the new Serbian government has created "a turning point" in achieving full cooperation with the Hague tribunal.At a joint news conference with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, the commissioner underscored that Serbia must back Serbia in the quickest possible achievement of convincing results in the implementation of the interim trade agreement, so that the issue of making Serbia an EU membership candidate can be reviewed as soon as possible. Rehn highlighted that Karadzic's arrest is a milestone in Serbia's cooperation with the Hague tribunal. "We must acknowledge and recognize the reaching of that milestone also when relations between Serbia and the EU are concerned." The commissioner added that, "although the EU Council of Ministers is the one who decides, the European Commission's position is that we must begin implementing the interim agreement that regulates trade within the Stabilization and Association Agreement." He also said that it is clear that Serbia cannot count on the status of membership candidate without full cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
EU COUNCIL SAYS THIS IS IMPORTANT PHASE FOR SERBIA
BRUSSELS, July 22 (Tanjug) - The EU Council of Ministers welcomed in conclusions from the Tuesday meeting in Brussels the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, said that this represented an important phase in the rapprochement between Serbia and the EU and encouraged Belgrade to continue along the same path. The arrest shows the commitment of the new government in Belgrade to contribute to peace and stability in the Balkan region and represents an important phase in Serbia's accession to theEU. The Council encourages the Serbian government to continue along the same path and recalls the conclusions of June 19-20, 2008, which said that Serbia could speed up its progress on the path to the EU, including the granting of the candidate status as soon as the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The Council also encourages the new Serbian government to maintain positive relations with the EU and its member-states and to develop constructive relations towards EU efforts to contribute to peace and stability in the Balkan region. The Council also reiterates its commitment ot the dialogue on the liberalisation of the visa regime wiht Serbia and invites the new government to focus on the full implementation of criteria contained in the roadmap, it was said in conclusions adopted at the meeting.
Kouchner: Decision on Interim Agreement possible by end July
BRUSSELS, July 23 (Tanjug) - EU Council of Ministers Chairman, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has said that the decision on the implementation of the Interim Agreement with Serbia could be adopted by the end of July. The decision should be taken by the ambassadors of the EU member-states at one of the two remaining meetings to be held by the end of July, before the beginning of the annual holidays in August. The EU foreign ministers will meet next in early September. However, Kouchner pointed out that two war crimes indictees of ICTY are still at large, specifically mentioning Ratko Mladic.
SERBIA – Cyprus
OPPONENTS OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES
BRUSSELS, Jul 22 (Tanjug) - The Foreign Minister of Cyprus Marcos Kyprianou told in Brussels on the eve of his visit to Belgrade that EU members opposing Kosovo's independence are having difficulties and that he will discuss this with Serbian officials. Kyprianou said his key message to Serbia will be support to its territorial integrity, and that Kosovo will be the main topic of his talks with President Tadic, Prime Minister Cvetkovic and Foreign Minister Jeremic, with whom he conferred Tuesday in Brussels at the EU Council of Ministers session. Cyprus has a clear stand - it respects the territorial integrity of all states and believes that the Kosovo issue should be resolved through dialogue rather than by unilateral acts such as declaring independence, Kyprianou said. There are real difficulties that should be discussed, as 20 EU member-states have already recognized Kosovo and more might do so soon, and as the EC is working on the basis of presumption of Kosovo's independence, he said. This is a problem for Cyprus and the other countries which do not intend to recognize Kosovo's independence, he said. He also intends to urge Serbia not to abandon its European perspective despite many difficulties.
JEREMIC: CYPRUS CONFIRMS IT WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE KOSOVO
BELGRADE, Jul 23 (Tanjug) - Cyprus has reiterated that it does not recognize or support in any way the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Foreign Minister Jeremic stated at a joint press conference held together with his Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou in Belgrade. Kyprianou said that the support of Cyprus to Serbia on the issue of Kosovo is based on respect of the international law principles, of which respect of territorial integrity and sovereignty of a country is the main one. Minister Jeremic underscored that Serbia has strong support of Cyprus on its way to its full membership in the EU.Cyprus Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou stated that Cyprus does not recognize or support in any way the unilaterally declared independence by Kosovo and Metohija. We did not and will not recognize the unilaterally declared independence by Kosovo, underscored Kyprianou. Kyprianou also said that Cyprus believes that no European stand may be created on the Kosovo issue, but that every individual country should decide on the issue. Minister Kyprianou also underscored that his country believes that deployment of EULEX has to respect Serbia's territorial integrity and it should be in keeping with Resolution 1244. The EU is working on deploying the mission soon and that is an issue that Serbia and the EU will have to discuss in the coming period, said Kyprianou.
CVETKOVIC EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO KYPRIANOU
BELGRADE, July 23 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic on Wednesday expressed gratitude to Cypriot Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou for Cyprus's principled stance on not recognizing Kosovo's independence, and its support for the EU integration process in Serbia. During the meeting, Kyprianou stressed that Serbia's rightful place is in the EU and that the new Serbian government has taken a major step forward in cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the government's office for media cooperation said in a statement.The two sides expressed willingness to continue and strengthen economic cooperation and to cherish the traditional friendly relations between Serbia and Cyprus.
KOSOVO – METOHIJA
FRIED: NORTHERN KOSOVO SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER CONTROL
BRUSSELS, July 23 (Tanjug) - The US is asking the international community as soon as possible to take control of northern Kosovo, populated by a majority Serb population, Assistant US Secretary of State in charge of European affairs Daniel Fried has said in Brussels. Northern Kosovo is now outside the law. Some presence of the international community should exist in that region and it cannot be exempt from control, or be outside of Kosovo, the US diplomat said. Life in northern Kosovo should be normalized, Fried said, adding that the international community should act carefully in resolving this issue. Fried also urged the speedier redefining of the United Nations mission in Kosovo.
PRISTINA MINIMIZES IMPORTANCE OF ZANNIER'S VISIT TO BELGRADE
PRISTINA, July 23 (Tanjug) - Pristina notably tends to minimize the importance of the talks UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier is scheduled to hold in Belgrade today, cautioning that the status of Kosovo and political issues had been "closed" and were outside the UNMIK Chief's competency. Kosovo Deputy Premier Hajredin Kuci on Wednesday stated that no special results should be expected from Zannier's talks in Belgrade. "We don't expect any important changes or different approaches, but, it has to be said that two things are clear for Kosovo - first, only Kosovo and its officials may speak on behalf of Kosovo and, second, the status and political issues may not be topics of discussions. Those are issues that have been closed," said Kuci. Kuci only allows a possibility of talks between Serbia and Kosovo "as two independent and sovereign states" on regional integration interests. Pristina's daily Koha Ditore, however, evaluated that with his visit to Belgrade Zannier would make a first step of his shuttle diplomacy, and that he would try to get freed of Serbia's interference in the international civil administration in Kosovo.