01 June 2004 10:14
Serbian prime minister upbeat on Russia`s support ahead of visit
Belgrade, 1 June: Russia's support for "our aspiration to build stable and functional power institutions in
the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro" is of special importance to Serbia, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav
Kostunica has said in an interview for [Russian] ITAR-TASS and RIA news agencies today. This would help to strengthen
"stability in the region", he added. Later this week Kostunica is arriving in Russia on his first visit as
head of state.
Kostunica said that while in Moscow he is planning to discuss the issues of "deepening and strengthening
bilateral economic cooperation" that is "a priority for Serbia". "It would be ideal if we could take
our economic ties to the level of the political ones," he said, calling relations between Serbia and the Russian
Federation "friendly and close". Kostunica added that the republic "welcomed" the participation of
Russian capital in privatization in Serbia.
Kostunica stressed the important role played by Russia as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the
Kosovo Contact Group. "Russia's principled stance on the inviolability of borders in the region is of special
importance to us. This stance helps preserve peace and stability in the Balkans and, on the other hand, establish
dialogue as means for resolving the problem," he said. "For a long time Russia has been saying that the
situation in Kosovo-Metohija is rather complicated and the policy that has been pursued there up to now has failed to
yield any results," he added.
Kostunica said that he intended to inform the Russian leadership about the plan for a political settlement in Kosovo
adopted by the Serbian government several weeks ago, which envisages autonomies for the Serbian minority in the
province. "The UN Security Council's Resolution No 1244 envisages a wide autonomy for Kosovo-Metohija as a
part of Serbia. Thus I believe that our proposal on a wide autonomy for Serbs there cannot be contended," he said.
Otherwise this may lead to a revision of "the final status of the province", Kostunica added.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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