Byzantine Blog

Kosovo Serbs Rally Behind their Government

Around 10,000 Kosovo Serbs gathered today in the town of Kosovska Mitrovica, the largest remaining Serbian enclave in the province ethnically cleansed of over 300,000 non-Albanians since the arrival of NATO in 1999, at rally in support of their government, to say that Kosovo Serbs want to continue living in the province and within Serbia.

The rally in a central city square was held in support of the state delegation that is participating at a UN Security Council session on Wednesday, focusing on the future status of southern Serbian province of Kosovo, following the stage of negotiations mediated by the Contact Group troika.

The gathering, organized by the Serbian National Council (SNV), comes a day ahead of a UN Security Council meeting dedicated to the future status of Kosovo, as a sign of support for official Belgrade's position in the crisis.

No to Illegal EU Mission, No to Seizure of Kosovo-Metohija, No to Another Albanian State on Serbian Territory

The rally is held under the motto, "No to the illegal EU mission circumventing UN resolution, No to independent Kosovo, a huge Yes to Kosovo as part of Serbia and Serbs as full-fledged citizens of Serbia".

Ten thousand people have gathered in the Sumadija Square in town. Heavy police presence is reported at the site.

“We are clearly and loudly telling a part of the international community 'No' to an independent Kosovo,” Kosovo Serb politician and member of the state negotiating team, Dr. Marko Jaksic said.

“We are sending the message that incessant attempts by Albanians to create another Albanian state in Serbia's territory, with foreign help, are unacceptable to the Kosovo Serbs,” said Jaksic.

“We are sending European Union a message that its mission won't be coming to Kosovo outside of the UN resolution,” he said.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 approved the deployment of the UN mission eight years ago after NATO aggression on Serbia which was drawn into an anti-terror war, against the Albanian Muslim armed insurgency under the terrorist KLA banner.

“The West, under the guise of the 'International community' wants to gift the Albanians yet another country in the Balkans after it bombed Serbia,” Dr. Jaksic said.

Serbia to Suspend All Processes with the EU

“Kosovo Serbs expect Belgrade to fight tooth and nail for the preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia,” said Jaksic.

“We want Serbia to suspend all processes with the European Union because that's no place for us. We don't care about full pockets and bellies if we lose Kosovo-Metohija,” he said.

“The state of Serbia is each day more and more capable of offering security to its citizens in Kosovo and Metohija,” he added.

Serbian Delegation Headed by Prime Minister Arrives in New York

Serbian delegation that will take part in the Wednesday close-door session of the UN Security Council dedicated to Kosovo, arrived in New York late on Monday, where over the next 24 hours it will have talks with a number of international officials, including the Foreign Ministers of Italy and Slovakia, Massimo D'Alema and Jan Kubis, respectively.

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Slobodan Samardzic will meet, before the Security Council session, with the ambassadors of several member countries of the world organization's most influential body.

Prime Minister Kostunica announced ahead of his departure for New York that Serbian delegation would require a continuation of the negotiations on the status of southern Serbian province of Kosovo.

On Wednesday, the Serbian delegation will take part in the Security Council session, which will review the report [.pdf file] by the mediators of the international Contact Group on the recently concluded 120-day negotiations between Serbian authorities and Kosovo Albanian separatists.