11 May 2004 20:59
Serb party leader say Russia`s role in Kosovo conflict "invaluable"
Moscow, 11 May: Moscow's active support is invaluable in the settlement of the situation in Kosovo, leader of
Serbia's Democratic Party and presidential candidate Boris Tadic has said. Today he met deputy chairman of the
State Duma Artur Chilingarov. "In Kosovo we are fighting for our national interests, for equality of the residents
of this enclave," the visitor said.
Tadic believes that the international community gives preference to Albanians in Kosovo, and the recent cleansing
during which the Serbs were subjected to all sorts of oppression is the consequence of this policy. "We find this
policy unacceptable because it should be taking into account the interests of all the people living in Kosovo,"
Tadic said. It is necessary to ensure that the Serb population is safe in Kosovo, he said. Over 200,000 Serbs who left
Kosovo after the ethnic cleansing must go back," Tadic said. He added that "without Russia's help it
would be very difficult to do this".
"The actions of the Albanian extremists are were simple: To push out Serbs from separate enclaves and put a lot
of pressure on those enclaves where the majority of Serbs live," Tadic said. "We need Russia to play a strong
role both within the contact group on the settlement of the Kosovo situation and the United Nations," he said.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
