Tadić hints at "reassessing relations"

Serbian President Boris Tadic today addressed the extraordinary session of the UN Security Council in New York, called after the latest incidents in Kosovo. Tadic told the council that Serbia "will have no choice but to reassess its relations with the international presence in Kosovo and Metohija unless the international factors deny further support to Pristina's (Kosovo Albanian) destabilizing acts". Tadic hints at "reassessing relations" Tadic underlined that the only way to establish stability in Kosovo was to implement in full the secretary-general's six-point plan. It was with the acceptance of this plan that Belgrade agreed to the deployment of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, in 2008. Tadic pointed out that the incident on Friday, when a group of protesting Serbs was attacked in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, when one person died, was an attempt to increase inter-ethnic tensions and sabotage the quest for comprehensive peace in the province. "It was yet another destructive consequence of a sinister plan, sponsored in part by the so-called International Civilian Office headed by Pieter Feith, to unilaterally impose an illegal and unwanted regime in that part of our province," Tadic said, adding that two high-intensity bombs were thrown from within courtyards of homes owned by ethnic Albanian supporters at Serbs who gathered in peaceful protests against the opening of an office of the so-called Kosovo government. The document the president was referring to was the so-called integration plan for northern, Serb areas, presented early this year by the ICO and the Kosovo Albanian government, and rejected by Serbs who live in the northern parts, and by official Belgrade. "We urge the international community to ensure nothing like what happened on Friday is ever repeated, and to make sure the illegal office in North Mitrovica remains closed," stated Tadic and added that the ethnic Albanian authorities have to be told what the consequences will be -should they try unilateralism again. Tadic underscored that EULEX has to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of all crimes against Kosovo Serbs, and that NATO has to maintain its present troop levels and exclusive static presence at all Serbian holy sites they currently protect. He pointed out that Belgrade will not tolerate attempts by the Pristina temporary administration to unilaterally impose offices, courthouses and telecommunications infrastructure in the local Serbian communities. Tadic recalled that after the riots in March 2004, part of the international community rewarded pogrom against Serbs orchestrated by Kosovo ethnic Albanians by recognizing the unilateral declaration of independence, and expressed expectation that Pristina will not be encouraged to resort to violence again. "The truth about the unilateral declaration of independence, however uncomfortable for some to hear, is that it cannot lead to peace and stability - for peace is the product of agreement, just as stability is the result of consensus," Tadic stated. The Serbian president expressed expectation that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will not legitimize the unilateral declaration of independence. "We know that tomorrow, some other country might find itself in a similar situation, and the world would rapidly discover that the rushing river let loose by Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence has become an uncontrolled cascade of secession across the globe. That is why we strongly urge all non-recognizing member states to stay the course," Tadic stated. Tadic concluded that Serbia will never, regardless of the consequences, recognize the unilateral declaration of independence, but that ut will also not abandon the search for a compromise solution. Kosovo's Albanians in February 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Belgrade rejected the move, and the territory has not been able to join the UN.

Tadić hints at "reassessing relations"

Tadić underlined that the only way to establish stability in Kosovo was to implement in full the secretary-general's six-point plan.

It was with the acceptance of this plan that Belgrade agreed to the deployment of the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX, in 2008.

Tadić pointed out that the incident on Friday, when a group of protesting Serbs was attacked in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, when one person died, was an attempt to increase inter-ethnic tensions and sabotage the quest for comprehensive peace in the province.

"It was yet another destructive consequence of a sinister plan, sponsored in part by the so-called International Civilian Office headed by Pieter Feith, to unilaterally impose an illegal and unwanted regime in that part of our province," Tadić said, adding that two high-intensity bombs were thrown from within courtyards of homes owned by ethnic Albanian supporters at Serbs who gathered in peaceful protests against the opening of an office of the so-called Kosovo government.

The document the president was referring to was the so-called integration plan for northern, Serb areas, presented early this year by the ICO and the Kosovo Albanian government, and rejected by Serbs who live in the northern parts, and by official Belgrade.

"We urge the international community to ensure nothing like what happened on Friday is ever repeated, and to make sure the illegal office in North Mitrovica remains closed," stated Tadić and added that the ethnic Albanian authorities have to be told what the consequences will be -should they try unilateralism again.

Tadić underscored that EULEX has to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of all crimes against Kosovo Serbs, and that NATO has to maintain its present troop levels and exclusive static presence at all Serbian holy sites they currently protect.

He pointed out that Belgrade will not tolerate attempts by the Priština temporary administration to unilaterally impose offices, courthouses and telecommunications infrastructure in the local Serbian communities.

Tadić recalled that after the riots in March 2004, part of the international community rewarded pogrom against Serbs orchestrated by Kosovo ethnic Albanians by recognizing the unilateral declaration of independence, and expressed expectation that Pristina will not be encouraged to resort to violence again.

"The truth about the unilateral declaration of independence, however uncomfortable for some to hear, is that it cannot lead to peace and stability - for peace is the product of agreement, just as stability is the result of consensus," Tadić stated.

The Serbian president expressed expectation that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will not legitimize the unilateral declaration of independence.

"We know that tomorrow, some other country might find itself in a similar situation, and the world would rapidly discover that the rushing river let loose by Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence has become an uncontrolled cascade of secession across the globe. That is why we strongly urge all non-recognizing member states to stay the course," Tadić stated.

Tadić concluded that Serbia will never, regardless of the consequences, recognize the unilateral declaration of independence, but that ut will also not abandon the search for a compromise solution.

Kosovo's Albanians in February 2008 unilaterally declared independence. Belgrade rejected the move, and the territory has not been able to join the UN.