Belgrade, 07. 03. 2008.

SERBIA - RULING COALITION CRISIS - GOVERNMENT IN A DEEP CRISIS

• SERBIAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS DRAFT RESOLUTION
• TADIC: SERBIAN GOVT CAN SURVIVE ON FIVE PRINCIPLES
• KOSTUNICA: GOVERNMENT IN SERIOUS CRISIS
• DULIC CALLS PARLIAMENT SESSION FOR MARCH 13
• DULIC: EU MEMBERSHIP WOULD IMPROVE CITIZENS' STANDARD
• DULIC: I WILL RESIGN IF RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
• DJILAS: WILL CONTINUE ITS EUROPEAN POLICY
• SAMARDZIC DOUBTS GOVERNMENT WILL SURVIVE

• TADIC: I WOULD SIGN SAA TODAY
• SAMARDZIC: EU CHANGED POLICY TOWARDS SERBIA
• DINKIC: SERBIA'S FATE DEPENDES ON EU INTEGRATION PROCESS
• LONCAR URGES REHN TO SPECIFY EU STAND ON SERBIA'S BORDERS
• RUPEL: SITUATION IN KOSOVO BETTER THAN EXPECTED
• CONSTANTIN YEROCOSTOPULOS NEW CE REPRESENTATIVE IN SERBIA
• GUSENBAUER: SERBIA SHOULD BE A FACTOR OF STABILITY
• CHIZHOV: REPLACEMENT OF MISSIONS IMPOSSIBLE

• SERBIAN FM ADDRESSES PROTEST NOTE TO ICELAND OVER KOSOVO
• FILIPOV HANDS OROTEST NOTE OVER KOSOVO
• JEREMIC: UN SC SESSION ON KOSOVO PROBABLY TO BE NEXT WEEK
• JEREMIC: RUSSIAN POSITION PRINCIPLED, BASED ON LAW
• ABOLISHMENT OF VISAS FOR RUSSIAN FEDERATION CITIZENS
• VISA ABOLITION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• TADIC URGES RESTRAINT FROM EU MISSION CHIEF
• FINLAND RECOGNISES KOSOVO AS INDEPENDENT STATE
• D'ALEMA: PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS NOT UNILATERAL ACT
• DI CARLO: US WANTS GOOD RELATIONS WITH SERBIA
• LAVROV SAYS RESOLUTION 1244 MUST BE OBSERVED
• CHURKIN ON COMPARISON OF POSITIONS ON KOSOVO
• RUSSIA CONVENES UN SC SESSION ON KOSOVO FOR TUESDAY
• KOSACHEV: RUSSIA SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER RECIPROCITY
• NATO MINISTERS WELCOME MODERATION IN KOSOVO
• GEN DAVOREN SAYS PARALLEL SECURITY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
• OBAMA: SOLUTIONS ACCEPTABLE FOR BOTH SIDES
• SERBIAN RAILWAYS AND UNMIK REACH NO AGREEMENT

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - The Serbian government on Thursday rejected with a majority vote the text of a draft resolution of the Serbian National Assembly on the preservation of the Republic of Serbia in relations with international organizations. During the debate, the Foreign Ministry gave a negative opinion about the draft resolution, while the Kosovo and Metohija Ministry gave a positive one, a statement issued after the session said. The Serbian government adopted the Foreign Ministry opinion in a majority vote, the Serbian government's public relations office announced.

BELGRADE, Mar 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian President and Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic said Thursday that the Serbian government will remain in office as long as it keeps implementing the five principles on the basis of which it was constituted. As long as it remains in the government, DS will follow the policy of fostering closer ties with the European Union, he told a press conference. DS will not destabilize the government, but possible relieving of parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic of office will inevitably topple the government, as it would mean that the ruling coalition will no longer have a majority in the parliament, he said. Whoever wants to topple the government will have to take responsibility, Tadic said, noting, however that full stability of all institutions is needed in this difficult time. Voting in the parliament for the resolution submitted by the Serbian Radical Party would undermine the five principles, but it remains to be seen whether anyone in the government will violate the principles, he said. As regards the negative vote by the majority of ministers earlier in the day on the SRS draft resolution setting pre-conditions for pursuing integration in Europe, Tadic said it will not necessarily cause a government crisis.

BELGRADE, March 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Friday he "no longer believes that his coalition partners are sincerely fighting for the preservation of Kosovo.""The Serbian government is in a serious crisis due to the lack of our readiness to make a decision that we will together firmly insist that Serbia can become a member of the EU only as a whole country, together with Kosovo," Kostunica told Tanjug. He said that "in the next several days the parliamentary parties will have to make agreement as to how to overcome this crisis."

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Parliament President Oliver Dulic has set the continuation of the first meeting of the first regular session of parliament for Thursday, March 13, the Office of the Parliament President announced on Thursday. The session was called following consultations with the whips of parties that support the adopting of a resolution on the protection of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia in relations with the international community, and in particular with the EU, the statement said. The parliament session was interrupted yesterday after the adopting of the agenda in which the first item was the proposal of this resolution. The text of this draft resolution was proposed by the Serbian Radical Party, and it was subsequently coordinated with the deputy groups of the Democratic Party of Serbia - New Serbia, and the Socialist Party of Serbia. The Serbian government today by majority vote rejected the resolution draft.

BELGRADE, March 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic said late on Friday that Serbia should become an EU member so that from that position it could protect its interests and improve the standard of living of its citizens. In an interview with Studio B television, he said that in this way, together with the countries that did not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, this sham state could be prevented from becoming a member of European and international institutions - the EU Council, OSCE and others. He recalled that Serbia has the right of veto in these institutions. Speaking about the resolution proposal on the protection of Serbia's territorial integrity in the relations with the international organizations, particularly EU, for which the parliament decided Thursday to be included in the parliamentary debate and the government rejected it on Friday following a governmental debate, at which the Foreign Ministry gave a negative and the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija a positive opinion on the proposal, Dulic said that today Kosovo is being used as an argument for stopping the process of the European integration. He said that it is very hard to stay in the government with the Democratic Party of Serbia if this party would insist that the process of integrations be stopped, and this will happen if the parliament adopts the text of the resolution. Dulic said that he agrees with the views that the EU mission was unlawfully sent to Kosovo-Metohija but that this means that there is a new situation that has to be observed. He added that the UNMIK and KFOR are the addresses Serbia communicates with because the EULEX does not recognize that the country might try to influence the decision making as a member or associated member, because it will more and more often sit at the table where the fate of Kosovo-Metohija is being decided.

BELGRAE, March 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian parliament speaker Oliver Dulic said late on Thurasday that he would tender a resignation to the post if the parliament adopted a drat resolution on the protection of Serbia's territorial integrity in relations with international organisations, particularly with the EU, a document which the government did not adopt at its Thursday session. In a live broadcast by TV Studio B, Dulic said that he wanted to be a president of such a parliament which adopted laws and harmonised them with the regulations of Europe, and that if that was no longer to be the case, he saw no reason to sit there at all. He said that he would like to see what reason would be specified for his replacement, adding that the Radicals had not yet presented such a demand to the parliament. "The DSS (Democratic Party of Serbia) said they would see that proposal, and I would also like to see it and learn what the reason is. If the reason for my replacement is that I have required an opinion of the government, which the Radicals did on a number of occasions requiring my opinion about some other laws and documents, and if 126 deputies sign such a request, I will resign without any problem at all," Dulic said. He added that if he was replaced, he did not see any reason why Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica should continue performing his duty, since they had both been elected by the same majority.

BELGRADE, Mar 7 (Tanjug) - Minister without portfolio in charge of the implementation of the National Investment Plan Dragan Djilas has said that the Democratic Party (DS) will continue to pursue its European policy and that the party urges for the "preservation of the Serbian government for as long as it leads the country towards Europe." In a statement published by Vecernje Novosti on Friday, Djilas said that we do not need resolutions "In which we would say that Serbia may joint the EU with Kosovo-Metohija only, because it is written in the Constitution." "The point is, does Serbia want to continue the negotiation with the EU, do we want to use its funds, do we want foreign investments, do we want higher wages, better life.or we want to stop all that," said Djilas. When asked whether the DS will react if the parliament backs the resolution on protection of Serbia's territorial integrity in its relations with international organizations, the EU in particular, Djilas said that the topic of the resolution is foreign policy, which is not in the parliament's jurisdiction. "Even if they do adopt it, the resolution may not be obligatory for the government to pursue such a policy. It seems that the Radicals like resolutions very much, because they propose them all the time and obstruct the parliament work. Because of them, many laws which are supposed to provide a better life for the citizens are waiting to be adopted," said he.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Slobodan Samardzic said on Thursday that the Serbian government is in a deep crisis and expressed doubts that it will survive. Addressing a press conference after a government session, Samardzic said a solution must be found for the functioning of the government, but said it was his personal belief that it would not survive. There are big differences among the coalition partners on two points of the coalition agreement - European integrations, and Kosovo and Metohija, he said. Part of the government is for a small step toward accession and wants the European Union clearly to state whether it sees Serbia as an integral state, while the other part is for immediate integrations and is ready to overlook the EU policy practiced against Serbia, the minister explained. "I have personal ideas how this could be resolved," he said, adding that there are different mechanisms for resolving this crisis. He listed "the creating of a new majority support in Serbian parliament" as an example. It is possible that the draft resolution of the Serbian Radical Party will be adopted in the Serbian NA, Samardzic said.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Thursday that he would sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union immediately if it were offered to Serbia today. "This would be within my powers. Such an agreement would protect Serbia's interests and our identity in Europe, and the security and integrity of our country," Tadic told a press conference in the Serbian Presidency building. Tadic said that if "we fail to move towards the EU, in the coming years we will also be giving up our integrity." "As a EU member, Serbia would have the possibility to prevent other countries from becoming members, i.e. we could prevent Kosovo from joining," Tadic underscored. He called for the withdrawal of a draft resolution, filed by the Serbian Radical Party and backed by the Democratic Party of Serbia - New Serbia coalition, from parliamentary procedure, reiterating that it abuses the issue of Kosovo in order to halt EU association. Tadic appealed for restraint, adding that a political plan for the defence of the country's integrity should be carefully thought out. "In the 1990s, we had a policy which was hasty and which became ensnared, and we are sufferring its consequences even today ... It is that policy that has resulted that today our compatriots no longer live in their centuries-old homes," Tadic pointed out. "Only through a policy of genuine, rather than fake patriotism, can we defend our interests," Tadic underscored.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic said on Thursday that part of the Serbian government wanted the European Union to state where the Serbian borders were, while the other was ready to tolerate the altered EU policy towards Serbia. Samardzic reiterated that Serbia had not changed its policy towards the European Union, but that the EU had changed its policy towards Serbia. "The main problem in the altered EU policy towards Serbia is whether the European Union recognises Serbia in its internationally recognised borders or not," Samardzic said. He said that what the European Union had been doing since Dec 14, when a decision on the sending of the Eulex mission to Kosovo-Metohija was adopted, until Wednesday, when the European Commission adopted conclusions on the democratisation of the province and announcement of the EU cooperation with Kosovo, indicated that the "European Union does not recognise Seriba in its internationally recognised borders." "According to one part of the government, which has supported the Radicals' resolution, Serbia believes that this issue must be resolved in bilateral relations between Serbia and the European Union. Serbia cannot keep its head in the sand and act as if the European Union has done nothing, when it has done a lot against Serbia's state interest," Samardzic said and added that these relations had to be clarified. The minister explained that without clarification, Serbia and the European Union might sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and that some of the countries that had recognised independent Kosovo might not sign this act with Serbia. "This would be a big disgrace for Serbia to sign the SAA and that a large number of countries that have recognised Kosovo's independence refrain from doing so," he said. He said that the other part of the government was ready to "tolerate this" and believed that integration was necessary immediately, and added that this was actually the "bone of contention" in the ruling coalition. The minister said that the acceptance of such an EU policy towards Serbia and continuation of integrations would mean that Serbia would practically "abandon its policy of defence of Kosovo-Metohija."

KOPAONIK, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic said on Thursday that the future and economy of Serbia and all social relations in the country depended on Serbia's EU integration process. "I am optimistic and I think that the process of Serbia's EU integration cannot be stopped, regardless of different polemics and political obstacles presently placed in the way," Dinkic said at the Kopaonik Business Forum. Otherwise, Serbia would literally remain the only country in the wider region that would not go towards the European Union, Dinkic said and wondered what the alternative would be. Dinkic recalled that the CEFTA agreement brought benefit to Serbia, because it was the second country that profited the most from this agreement and added that according to the structure of foreign trade Serbia realised 60 percent of its export in the EU member-states, five percent in Russia, one percent in the US and the rest in the region. Speaking about other planned integrations, Dinkic said that it had been planned that Serbia become a WTO member by the end ot the year and the plan would be realised if parliament and the government adopted the Action Plan, i.e. proposed laws from the Action Plan.

BELGRADE, March 7 (Tanjug) - Minister of Education Zoran Loncar once again on Friday urged European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to say whether Brussels observed Serbia's internationally recognised borders, or it saw the country without 15 per cent of its territory. "Olli Rehn used to comment on all what was happening in Serbia, all the way from football to Kosovo, but now he keeps silent when the Serbian prime minister asks him in public, since he is an authorised European commissioner, whether the EU observes Serbia's internationally recognised borders," Loncar told Tanjug. Minister Loncar asked why Olli Rehn was hiding Brussel's stand on something which every citizen of Serbia wanted to know. "Up to now, Rehn was good at polemicising with Serbia, at giving it a number of advices and posing still more conditions. Why doesn't he now clearly say to the citizens of Serbia if the EU respects Serbia's internationally recognised borders or it sees the country as lacking 15 percent of its territory," Loncar wondered. According to Minister Loncar, it is high time that instead of belittling Serbia by remaining silent, Commissioner Rehn responds to the question he has been posed. "Whatever his answer may be, the message of the Serbian people is clear - Kosovo is Serbia," Loncar said.

LJUBLJANA, Mar 6 (Tanjug) - Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said Thursday in Brussels that the situation in Kosovo after the declaration of independence was "much better than anyone had expected" even though there are some problems in the north. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Rupel said that the the operations of NATO's KFOR forces in Kosovo are successful, while the EU is also slowly taking over tasks and positioning itself in Kosovo. Noting that there is no need for a negative attitude towards Serbia, Rupel said "We wish that Serbia would also continue along the path it has chosen and that the entire Western Balkans sees a future in Euroatlantic integration." Today's ministerial debate was divided into two parts, the first being NATO's expansion, and the second its operations, above all in Kosovo and Afghanistan.

BELGRADE, Mar 7 (Tanjug) - Greek Ambassador Constantin Yerocostopoulos, newly appointed Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Serbia, has expressed his hope that the grave situation that Serbia is in due to Kosovo will not prevent the country to fulfill its other important priorities. The situation regarding Kosovo is rather unfortunate, but I hope that because of that Serbia will not abandon other very important priorities, Yerocostopoulos told reporters at a reception held at the residence of the Greek Ambassador to Serbia on the occasion of his new appointment. The Greek diplomat said that the task of the CE office is to help Serbia in the process of democratic reforms, European integrations, protection of human and minority rights and other issues addressed by the Council of Europe, whose member Serbia has been since 2003. Yerocostopoulos said that as an organization the Council of Europe does not respond to the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo but that it is up to the member states to do it individually.

Bucharest, March 6 (Beta)-Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer stated in Bucharest on March 6 that Serbia must be "the pillar of political and economic stability" in the western Balkans. "Serbia must have its place in Europe. A great battle is going on now between the proEuropean forces and nationalists in Serbia," Gusenbauer stated in Bucharest after a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu. Gusenbauer pointed out that Serbia must be the leader of economic and political stability in the western Balkans. Austria has recognized Kosovo's independence, but its government has pointed out several times that it wants to have close relations with Belgrade. On the other hand, Romanian authorities have not recognized Kosovo, and information has come from Bucharest that this recognition is not even being considered. Gusenbauer and Tariceanu held talks in Bucharest about the strengthening of trade relations between the two countries, and on the project for the building of the Nabucco gas pipeline, which is being supported by the U.S. and the EU.

MOSCOW/BRUSSELS, March 7 (Tanjug) - Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov on Friday qualified as unsubstantiated Brussels' announcements on the forthcoming transfer of jurisdictions from the UN onto the EU Mission, since "it is impossible to transfer powers from a lawful structure to an illegitimate one". Chizov told Russian journalists in Brussels that the EU Mission lacked legitimate grounds, because, as he put it, the only valid legal basis for international presence in Kosovo was UN Security Council Resolution 1244 which did not envisage such a form.The Russian diplomat reiterated that Russia did not oppose the possibility that the EU assumed partial responsibility for what was going on in Kosovo and that it "would not be against the sending of an EU mission had there been a corresponding decision of the UN Security Council." Following his talks with the EU Troika in the Committee on Foreign and Security Policy at the level of ambassadors, Chizov said that it was impossible to reach a compromise of the 27 member countries of the Union on Kosovo recognition. "Even the sponsors of Kosovo independence have realized today there will be no compromise on the issue among all the 27 member countries, as there are states in the European Union, which are not indifferent to international law and the prestige of the UN Security Council," Itar-Tass quoted Chizov as saying.

BELGRADE, Mar 6 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Foreign Ministry addressed Thursday a protest note to the government of Iceland over its recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo-Metohija. The note emphasizes the Serbian government's stand of rejection of the illegal unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and points to possible consequences this illegal act can have for regional security and stability, the ministry said.

LJUBLJANA, Mar 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Ambassador to Ljubljana Predrag Filipov delivered on Thursday a protest note over Slovenia's recognition of Kosovo independence to Foreign Ministry State Secretary Matjaz Sinkovec. Filipov also told Sinkovec that he was called for consultations to Belgrade, the Foreign Ministry said. Upon receiving the note, Sinkovec said the recognition was not aimed against Serbia, which Slovenia still supported in its bid to join the EU. Slovenia understands and respects Serbia's position and has always pointed to the need for protecting ethnic minorities in Kosovo, he said. Slovenia still expects Serbia to formally apologize for the mob attack on the Slovenian embassy in Belgrade and make sure the perpetrators are prosecuted and damages paid, Sinkovec said.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Thursday after a series of meetings at UN Headquarters in New York that he expected that a new UN Security Council session on Kosovo-Metohija might be scheduled next week. "This was a day of intensive consultations at the United Nations, primarily at the Security Council, because Serbia wanted to raise the issue of scheduling of a new Security Council session. We hope that this might happen next week," Jeremic told Tanjug. "Although opposition, i.e. quite a resistance to the calling of this session exists, I am optimistic that this session might happen next week in which case Serbia will have the opportunity to present its stand," he added. The minister said that the "dialogue was difficult" and that the Security Council was "extremely deeply divided" on the issue of Kosovo. He said, however, that Serbia was persistent and believed that the session needed to be called, among other things to clearly confirm the UNMIK mandate under Resolution 1244 and to confirm that no transfer of authority from UNMIK to any other form of international presence in the province could happen. "Of course, we would also use the session to underline our stand that unilaterally declared independence is in a complete disagreement with international law and that, as such, it should be dismissed and annulled and that Serbia was ready for the continuation of the status dialogue, i.e. that it wanted new negotiations under the UN auspices on the future status of our future province," Jeremic said. Jeremic said that on Thursday he had had bilateral consultations with a large number of representatives of countries that were not Security Council members, but which had great influence in their parts of the world.

MOSCOW/NEW YORK, March 7 (Tanjug) - The Russian position on Kosovo-Metohija is principled and based on international law which rules out the possibility of seizure of a part of sovereign country, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the Russian press in New York late on Thursday, following his meeting with Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sergei Lavrov. Jeremic said that the Russian chairmanship of the UN Security Council in March significantly helps Serbia to defend its opinion regarding the illegal unilateral declaration of the Kosovo independence, the RIA Novosti news agency reported from the headquarters of the world organization. Jeremic called on the international community to exclude the possibility of the deployment of the EU mission in Kosovo, pointing out that Belgrade acts in line with international law, the agency said. In discussing this issue, "it is very important to remain on the positions of international law," Jeremic said, adding that UN SC Resolution 1244 set up the mission in Kosovo and that it is the only lawful international presence in the province. According to him, any other form of international civil presence, which would be sent to the province by a violation of the UN SC, cannot be seriously considered. The Itar-Tas Agency reported the words of the Serbian foreign minister that there is a very high possibility that a UN SC session on Kosovo will be held next week. Most possibly, it will take place early next week, he said and the Russian agency reported.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - The Serbian government met in session on Thursday and adopted a decision on the abolishment of visas for citizens of the Russian Federation and a decision on the proclamation of the year 2008 - the Year of Fighting Violence in Sport. The government also established a draft law on changes and amendments to the law on postal services, and adopted a decision to set up a council for the promotion of the position of Roma and the implementation of the Decade for including Roma, the government announced in a statement.

BELGRADE, Mar 7 (Tanjug) - Head of the economic team for Kosovo and Metohija and the south of Serbia Nenad Popovic on Friday evaluated that the Serbian government decision to abolish visas for the citizens of Russia will attract Russia's investors and will contribute to Serbia's economic development. "I believe that we made a big step towards attracting Russia's investors and tourists, and that the decision will soon have an impact on the economic development of Serbia and strengthening of the ties between Serbia and the Russian federation," Popovic said in a statement with Tanjug. He underscored that "this move had unambiguously confirmed that we believe that Russia is our main partner and ally, with which we may development close relations in all areas." Popovic said that Russian students, cultural workers and scientists, as well as a number of tourists, who are currently the most welcome foreign tourists in the world, will be particularly happy about the visa abolition . "I expect Russia to take into account exceptional relations between the two countries and will consider a possibility of making a reciprocal decision for Serbia's citizens, which is something I have received assurances for from all representatives of the Russian administration," underscored Popovic. The Serbian government decided on Thursday to abolish visas for the Russian Federation citizens.

BELGRADE, Mar 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian President and Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic deplored Thursday the frequent lack of understanding by the European Union of Serbia's stands, particularly as regards Kosovo-Metohija, and urged the head of the illegal EU mission in Kosovo Peter Feith to exercise restraint. Feith can stay in Kosovo as a private citizen, but not as head of an illegal mission. As long as this mission is not legalized, it will not get legitimity, and Feith must show restraint until then, Tadic said. He, however, expressed his disagreement with statements that the presence of the illegal EU mission in Kosovo means occupation, and urged politicians making such statements to show retraint too. As regards contries in the region which intend to recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, Tadic said such decisions would have serious consequences. He expressed his support to the best possible relations will all neighbors, but said that any decision of that kind would have deep political and economic consequences and urged all politicians in the region to think carefully. He also expressed his disappointment with Slovenia's decision Wednesday to recognize Kosovo independence.

HELSINKI, March 7 (Tanjug) - Finland on Friday recognised Kosovo as an independent state, it has been officially confirmed in Helsinki. Finland's President Tarja Halonen approved the decision by the government of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen that diplomatic relations be established with the southern Serbian province, DPA reported.

BRUSSELS, March 6 (Tanjug) - No-one would have taken into consideration the proclamation of the independence of Kosovo if it had been a unilateral act, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema announced on Thursday. The independence of Kosovo did not stem from a unilateral initiative of the people in Kosovo, but was created from within NATO. No-one would have considered the proclamation of independence if it had been a unilateral act, the Italian foreign minister said, speaking on the fringes of the NATO summit in Brussels. That is why Italy is opposed to Abkhazia's demand for a recognition of its independence from Georgia, D'Alema was quoted as saying by Italian media. Kosovo is not a precedent on the grounds of which other territories may unilaterally proclaim independence, he underscored. Kosovo is a sui generis case, since it is in fact an international protectorate in which there has been no Serbian sovereignty since 1999, D'Alema specified.

PRAGUE, March 6 (Tanjug) - US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Euroasian Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo has said that Washington wants to preserve good relations with Serbia, despite the declaration of the independence of Kosovo. We want good relations with Serbia. Historically, we had good relations with Serbia. We were allies in two world wars. During the Milosevic era, our relations were strained. We want Serbia to advance towards euro-atlantic integrations to the same extent as we want this for Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia and Montenegro, DiCarlo told the Free Europe radio. It is very important that these countries become members of euro-atlantic institutions and we intend to continue all our initiatives towards Serbia. We intend to continue working with Serbia. We are aware that the Serbian government does not support our policy on Kosovo, nor does it accept the independence of Kosovo, but we have clearly stated that, despite our differences, we want to maintain good relations, DiCarlo set out. She said that the US has recognized Kosovo in its existing borders and that it believes that Kosovo should be a multiethnic society, which is of crucial importance both for the US policy and for the EU. We are against ethnic divisions, such as that in northern Kosovo. We support the UN mission in Kosovo and their capability to secure peace in Kosovo. It is also very important that the Serbs and the other minorities in Kosovo are given all rights as fully-fledged citizens of Kosovo, DiCarlo added.

MOSCOW, March 6 (Tanjug) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a telephone conversation with EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 had to be observed and that no "illegal activities from the international presence" must be allowed. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that Lavrov had "especially underlined that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 on Kosovo must be observed and that no illegal activities from the international presence must be allowed." The statement said that on Wednesday Lavrov and Solana had reviewed the resolution of the Middle Eastern issue and issues in connection with the Iranian nuclear programme.

MOSCOW/NEW YORK, March 7 (Tanjug) - Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin, whose country assumed the monthly rotating presidency of the UN SC on March 1, said late on Thursday that at his meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, the stands on the Kosovo issue had been compared once again. "Serbia and Russia are seriously concerned by the consequences of self-proclamation of independence by Kosovo," Churkin said, and Itar-Tass reported from New York. During the talks, we discussed "mutual parallel efforts in international institutions, specifically in the United Nations," the Russian diplomat said and added that the meeting "was a very productive exchange of opinions." According to Churkin, the Kosovo issue is not on this month's agenda, although it will remain in the notes attached to the programme, which leaves the possibility that the matter be discussed in the UN Security Council. The Russian envoy to the UN did not say when the UN SC might hold its session on Kosovo, but Itar-Tass, referring to sources in the Serbian delegation, reported that sometime next week, it might be decided whether such a session would be held.

MOSCOW, NEW YORK, March 7 (Tanjug) - Russia, upon Serbia's request, will convene a session of the UN Security Council to be dedicated to Kosovo and Metohija for next Tuesday, spokeswoman of the Russian Mission to the UN Maria Zakharova has said. "The meeting will take place on Tuesday afternoon, March 11," she said, and Itar-Tass reported. Russian Permanent Representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, whose country assumed the rotating presidency of the UN SC on March 1, met on Thursday with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, with whom, as he told journalists after the meeting, he once again compared positions regarding the Kosovo issue. "Serbia and Russia are seriously concerned by the consequences of self-proclamation of independence by Kosovo," Churkin said, and added that during the talks, "mutual parallel efforts in international institutions, specifically in the United Nations" had been discussed. The Russian diplomat underlined that the meeting represented "a very productive exchange of opinions."

MOSCOW, Mar 7 (Tanjug) - Russia welcomed the Serbian government decision to abolish visas for the citizens of the Russian Federation, while chairman of the international affairs committee of the Russian Duma Konstantin Kosachev believes that Moscow should, in view of the special relations between the two countries, seriously consider a possibility of a reciprocal decision. Quoting its source from the Russian foreign Ministry, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Friday that Russia welcomes Belgrade's decision and believes that it will "undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening of the relations with friendly Serbia." According to the agency's source, the decision will have a positive impact on contacts between the populations of the two countries. In a statement with the Interfax news agency, Kosachev welcomed the decision of the Serbian government, adding that in view of the special relations between the two countries, "the decision should, sooner or later, be reciprocal." According to him, by abolishing visas with Russia, Serbia has "undoubtedly confirmed that it sees Russia as its main partner and ally, a friendly country, with which it is possible and needed to develop close relations in all areas." Kosachev said that the visa abolition would apply to all segments of Russia's society - businessmen, scientists, students, tourists and culture workers, another words, to all carriers of cooperation projects with Serbia, which had found itself in a complicated situation after a forceful and illegal secession of the Province of Kosovo.

BRUSSELS, March 6 (Tanjug) - NATO foreign ministers are encouraged by the political maturity of the Pristina government and the moderation expressed in Kosovo, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said after an Alliance meeing in Brussels on Thursday. The political maturity of the government and the people in Kosovo is encouraging, and everyone in Kosovo has demonstrated moderation, de Hoop Scheffer said, adding that no inter-ethnic violence, attacks on religious objects, or any bigger movements by refugees have taken place since the proclamation of the independence of this province. On the grounds of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1244, KFOR has the mandate to act in the entire territory of Kosovo, he said. The foreign ministers also spoke about NATO's relations with Serbia, within the discussion on Kosovo. The NATO ministers believe it is important to maintain and promote good relations with Serbia, which is considered a very important factor in the region, regardless of the current difficulties and rhetoric that does not help in any way, de Hoop Scheffer said. Nevertheless, the relations between NATO and Serbia do not depend on NATO alone, but on Belgrade as well, he specified. Asked by Pristina reporters why NATO is still trying to maintain good relations with Belgrade, de Hoop Scheffer replied that it would indeed be strange if a NATO secretary-general were to announce that he does not want good relations with Serbia.

PRISTINA, March 6 (Tanjug) - Commander of the US peacekeeping forces in Kosovo General John Davoren said in Gnjilane on Thursday that KFOR was determined not to allow the existence of parallel security institutions in Kosovo. KFOR will not allow the suspended Serbian police officers to try and form a parallel system, Davoren told a news conference and added that the existing borders would remain in place in Kosovo. We are ready to respond to any situation in Kosovo, wherever something happens, Davoren said and added that US troops within KFOR had been in northern Kosovo for four months. KFOR will not allow any attempts to destabilise the situation. We will support the Kosovo Police Service and UNMIK police in the preservation of public order and peace, he said and added that if needed, forces would be used in accordance with Resolution 1244 and Kumanovo Military and Technical Agreement. The general said that Serbian Army representatives had been told that they should observe Resolution 1244 and that they should not allow the repetition of anything similar to what had happened at the Mutivoda and Merdare border crossings when Serban war veterans protested.

ZAGREB, March 6 (Tanjug) - Democratic Party candidate for the US president Barack Obama has said that peace in Kosovo can be secured only through solutions acceptable for both sides and stressed that he would continue to support the Dayton and Erdut agreements, the Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper said on Thursday. In a letter to Serbian Unity Congress President Mirjana Samardzija, Obama said that after the declaration of independence all people in Kosovo had to get a chance to leave in a peaceful, tolerant and prosperous society in which places of worship and minority rights are completely protected, the daily said.

BELGRADE, March 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Railways Manager General Milanko Sarancic said that no agreement had been reached on the transfer of absolute rights to the organisation of railway transport in northern Kosovo with representatives of UNMIK railways in Belgrade on Thursday. Sarancic told reporters in a statement that a final agreement had not been made, because the UNMIK representative had requested to inform competent persons and get a response from them to the Serbian Railways demands. He said that the "pace of this organisation" was impossible to predict and voiced his expectation that UNMIK's clear stand on the issue would be known next week. He said that a negative response would put UNMIK in a deadlock, because it did not have the manpower to organise the railway transport, but that it would do the same to the Serbian Railways because they would not be able to organise transport in northern Kosovo.