Belgrade, 18. 04. 2008.

SERBIA - ICTY

• ICTY CHIEF PROSECUTOR SEEKS ARREST OF REMAINING INDICTEES
• KAVRAN: BRAMMERTZ'S VISIT NOT BE LINKED TO NEW EVALUATION
• KAVRAN: WE ARE CONSIDERING POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL

• TADIC: SERBIA’S INTEGRITY MORE IMPORTANT THAN EUROPEAN FUTURE
• KOSTUNICA: REHN STATEMENT CONFIRMS SAA SHOULD NOT BE SIGNED
• KOSTUNICA: ONLY SERBIA HAS ALTERNATIVE
• JEREMIC SAYS EU BEST SOLUTION FOR REGIONAL PROBLEMS
• COUCHNER - SAA WITH SERBIA TO BE SIGNED ONLY WITH CONSENSUS
• REHN SAYS SERBIA SHOULD AVOID SELF-IMPOSED ISOLATION
• REHN : RATIFICATION OF SAA WILL DEPEND ON COOPERATION

• GOVT. MAKES DECISION ON HOLDING ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
• AGREEMENT ON POLICE, CUSTOMS, HEALTH, JUDICIARY TO BE OFFERED
• TADIC RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR KONUZIN
• UN URGED TO REJECT ILLEGAL KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE PROCLAMATION
• DANZON VISITS BELGRADE, DISCUSSES WHO-SERBIA COOPERATION

• OSCE OPPOSES LOCAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO ON MAY 11
• INTERNATIONAL STEERING GROUP PRAISES KOSOVO PROGRESS

BELGRADE, April 17 (Beta) - International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said on April 17 that the arrest of the four remaining war crimes indictees is of critical importance, adding that Serbia needs to make some headway in its cooperation with the court.

Speaking in Belgrade after a meeting with War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic, Brammertz urged the authorities to arrest Ratko Mladic, Radovan Karadzic, Stojan Zupljanin, and Goran Hadzic and bring them to justice.

In his first official visit to the Serbian capital, Brammertz said that government representatives had briefed him on the effort to apprehend Stojan Zupljanin, adding that more progress is needed across the board.

Brammertz said that Rasim Ljajic, who heads the National Council on Cooperation with the ICTY, Prosecutor Vukcevic and himself had discussed a number of important issues related to documentation, access to Serbian archives, witness protection, and investigations into the groups helping the indictees evade capture.

President Boris Tadic and Ljajic emphasized that Serbia is ready to wrap up the process of cooperation with the ICTY, while expressing their anger over the acquittal of former KLA leader and Kosovo premier Ramush Haradinaj.

"Serbia has a clear view that every person who committed war crimes in the former Yugoslavia has to be prosecuted in The Hague regardless of ethnic origin," Tadic said, adding that Serbia is doing what it can to meet its obligations to the international court.

Tadic also described the Haradinaj verdict as an injustice, adding that the Serbian public has a right to be angry. "I hope that the Prosecution will file an appeal," Tadic added.

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica called the Haradinaj verdict "a mockery of justice that questions the very legitimacy of the international tribunal."

In a subsequent news conference, Brammertz said that ICTY prosecutors are no less discontent with the outcome of the Haradinaj trial, adding that they are carefully investigating the 300page indictment to determine if there are grounds for an appeal.

Brammertz went on to say that he will be filing his report on cooperation with Serbia with the U.N. Security Council and will fly to New York to present it personally in June.

ICTY Prosecution spokeswoman Olga Kavran recently said that officials from Brussels could meet with Brammertz to discuss the ICTY's relationship with Serbia since full cooperation with the court is a condition for the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

Brammertz will leave Belgrade on April 18 after meeting with Chief War Crimes Judge Sinisa Vazic, Prosecutor Vukcevic, and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic.

BELGRADE, April 17 (Tanjug) - The Hague Tribunal Prosecution spokesperson Olga Kavran said in Belgrade on Thursday that the visit of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz did not necessarily have to be linked with the expectations that after the visit, evaluations would be made on Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal.

Addressing the press, Kavran, however, did not rule out the possibility that someone in Brussels might address the chief prosecutor on the occasion of his assessment of Serbia's cooperation with The Hague. The ICTY Prosecution spokeswoman reminded that in mid-May, Brammertz would present his regular report to the UN Security Council on the degree of cooperation the countries which had obliged themselves to cooperation with The Hague, including Serbia, had achieved.

BELGRADE, April 17 (Tanjug) - Spokesperson for the ICTY chief prosecutor Olga Kavran said in Belgrade on Thursday that the Prosecution was considering the possibility of lodging an appeal against the acquittal of Ramus Haradinaj, but that such a decision had not been reached yet.

The deadline for announcing the appeal is 30 days as of the reaching of the verdict, Kavran told reporters, following the meeting of ICTY Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic.

BELGRADE, April 18 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic has said that if he was to decide between the European Union and Kosovo, he would decide in favour of the country's integrity. If at the end of my mandate I will have to choose between the European future and the integrity of my country, I will choose integrity, Tadic underlined in an interview for the Belgrade weekly Standard.

He said, however, that no one was posing such a condition before us at the moment, which was why he did not behave as "a man who arrived to a bridge today, but will cross it in five years," but who wanted to continue with both the strengthening of Serbia and the fight for Kosovo. "What is most important, is that the EU does not have the possibility to pose such a condition to Serbia, since in the EU itself there are countries that will never recognise independent Kosovo," Tadic said. Asked if after the (May 11) elections, he could imagine DS (Democratic Party) as part of the opposition, Tadic answered that he did not think the people of Serbia would vote for such a political option that would not lead the country towards the EU, "because this is a matter of survival, of life, of jobs for the people, of the sustainability of the entire system and the country itself."

BELGRADE, April 17 (Beta) - Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has said that EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn's statement that EULEX was dispatched to Kosovo to help get Kosovo on its feet is why no Serbian official has the right to sign any kind of agreement with the EU.

"We have to wait for the next Parliament and cabinet to be formed. These bodies will have a mandate from the people to decide the matters that are most important to the future of Serbia," he said.

Kostunica added that he appreciates Rehn finally owning up to the fact that the EU supports the creation of a Kosovo state and that this is why EULEX was deployed.

"I say this because Rehn has finally made the EU's opinion clear. The covering up of the EU's view on the matter and Brussels goals in Kosovo was becoming inappropriate," said Kostunica, the outgoing prime minister. In his opinion, Serbia must continue to maintain that further European integration will be possible only if Serbia's unity with its province, Kosovo, is preserved. "The next cabinet must begin negotiations with the EU after the May 11 elections in a way that reinforces the basic interests of the nation and state," he added.

BELGRADE, April 18 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has said there is no question as to whether or not Serbia should continue its European integration, but that the issue here is whether it will join that process "as one whole or as divided."

"All the parties in Serbia have clearly said they are for European integration, and there is no doubt about this," Kostunica said in an interview which the Belgrade daily Danas will publish in its Saturday issue. He noted that the dispute arose over the question "whether we are speaking of a whole or of a divided Serbia on that path."

"Never will Serbia join either the EU or any other institution if it gives up on part of its territory, because, if today we give up on Kosovo, tomorrow, according to that principle and the habit we acquired, we will give up on Vojvodina, and the day after that on some other part of our country. In the end, there will be nothing left and Serbia will not be able to join anything," the prime minister explained when asked what the alternative was if Serbia did not continue its path towards the EU. "Because of all this, we want to and we are willing to discuss responsibly with the EU and all the others the issue of our mutual relations. I need not mention that we are particularly interested in the boosting of economic cooperation with the EU member countries," Kostunica underlined.

PARIS, April 18 (Tanjug) - The best way to achieve a mutually acceptable solution for the issue of Kosovo and achieve long-term peace and stability in the region is work within the European Union and integration of the entire region in the European bloc, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has said. Sharp differences between Serbia and some EU governments on the issue of Kosovo's future are something to be regretted by all sides.

This was not Serbia's choice and our stand remains that the unilateral declaration of independence and decisions to recognise it are illegal, Jeremic said in a text published by the International Herald Tribune. The only thing that Serbia requests is to be treated like all other states that strive for the European Union and not to be treated in a discriminatory manner. The European Union did not condemn Cyprus because of the long-term dispute with Turkey. On the contrary, it has used the possibilities created through the process of integration to pave new ways for progress and agreement between two countries. This has improved relations in the region, he said. A similar thing must be done in the case of the ICTY. We are prepared fully to meet our obligations but we cannot accept double standards, especially in the light of the scandalous acquittal of Ramush Haradinaj, a Kosovo Albanian who we see as a war criminal, Jeremic said and added that Croatia had been allowed to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement before it had arrested all indictees.

STRASBOURG, April 17 (Tanjug) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Couchner said in Strasbourg on Thursday that the European Union would not sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia before all 27 member-states reach a consensus.

We will not sign the agreement, because two countries oppose it, but we will do everything we can to convince the two countries in the next few days, Couchner told a news conference after addressing the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

The Netherlands opposes the signing of the SAA with Serbia before Belgrade meets the condition of full cooperation with the ICTY and Belgium has also voiced reservations towards the signing. Couchner said, however, that all 27 member-states agreed that a hand should be extended towards Serbia.

BRUSSELS, April 17 (Tanjug) - The European Union wants Serbia to avoid self-imposed isolation at the key elections on May 11 and wants to help Kosovo stand on its own feet, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said in Brussels on Thursday.

Serbian citizens have to make the key choice on May 11 whether they will turn to future in Europe or risk self-imposed isolation, Rehn told a conference on civilian society in South-Eastern Europe, which he opened together with US businessman John Soros, and added that he hoped that Serbia would choose the European path.

Rehn said that Serbia was key for regional stability and good neighbourly relations. He said that Kosovo's commitment to multiethnic society had been carved in the new Constitution of Kosovo. The European Union supports Kosovo's efforts to stand on its own feet, Rehn said and added that the Eulex mission would assist in this. If it succeeds in avoiding the challenges of Kosovo's status and elections in Serbia, South-Eastern Europe has a bright future in Europe, Rehn said.

BANJA LUKA, April 18 (Tanjug) - EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn has said that Serbia may sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union, but that the ratification of the SAA would depend on cooperation with the ICTY.

Serbia is the most important factor in regional stability and good neighbourly relations in the Balkans, he told the Banja Luka newspaper Glas Srpske in an interview and added that Serbia had the potential to be the driving force of the region and that the European Union was prepared to speed up its way to the EU, including granting it the candidate status. He said that Serbia must reaffirm its European choice and meet the conditions for this. Serbian citizens hold the key decision.

Serbia may turn to the European future or risk self-imposed isolation, Rehn said and added that the first choice would move Serbia forward, towards stability, greater freedoms and prosperity and that the second led nowhere. Speaking about the adopted reform laws on police in Bosnia-Herzegovina Rehn said that this paved Bosnia's way to the signing of the SAA.

BELGRADE, April 17 (Beta) - On April 17, the Serbian government decided to hold parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo on May 11, regardless of UNMIK's stand on the question.

After the government session, Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo told a news conference that the correspondence between the Serbian government and the U.N. civil administration in Kosovo is still ongoing, but that a decision on the elections had been made. According to him, the decision was made unanimously, and the government members had no dilemmas regarding the question.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the government adopted a draft agreement with UNMIK, which is to specify the relations and the areas of cooperation with the civil administration in key bodies such as the police, health care, judiciary and customs.

He added that the Serbian government insists on respect for U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 in the work of UNMIK, and that it will not accept any of UNMIK's officials referring to Martti Ahtisaari's rejected plan.

Djelic said that the session also resulted in the adoption of a strategic document regulating Serbia's needs for international support from 2008 to 2010.

The ministers indirectly confirmed to the press that there had been a verbal conflict during the session, regarding the financing of coordinators in Kosovo and Metohija, and that some government members had left the session, but they did not wish to convey any details.

BELGRADE, April 17 (Tanjug) - Serbian government's draft agreement, which will be offered to UNMIK, envisages the regulation of relations in the field of police, customs, judiciary and health care, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said on Thursday.

The draft agreement with the UNMIK head should be signed by Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic, who would also be the chief Serbian government negotiator in the resolution of issues from these four areas, it was said at a news conference after the Thursday government session. Djelic said that the offered draft agreement was similar to the agreement signed in 2001 by the then Serbian deputy prime minister Nebojsa Covic and UNMIK head Hans Haekkerup.

"The idea is that in the newly created situation and for the purpose of stability on the ground, the already set negotiating team define relations in the field of police, customs, judiciary and health care with UNMIK," Djelic said. "Serbia does not want to have any disagreements with UNMIK, but wants them to stick to Resolution 1244. We had examples in the past few days when UNMIK representatives quoted the rejected Ahtisaari plan. In that sense, it is in our interest to have well regulated relations with UNMIK and KFOR, but we will not tolerate any of them leaving the framework of Resolution 1244," Djelic said.

BELGRDAE, April 18 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic received on Friday credentials from newly-appointed Ambassador of the Russian Federation Alexander V. Konuzin. Tadic wished Konuzin a pleasant stay in our country, success in his work and a good cooperation with all institutions in Serbia, the president's Press Relations Office reported.

Konuzin pointed out that it was necessary to fully use all the opportunities that had presented themselves and to improve even more the degree of progress that had been achieved so far, particularly in the field of trade and economic ties. Significant results have been achieved in this respect, since we have set solid foundations for joint activities in the field of energy, he said. Cooperation in this field is in the interest of the people of both countries, it contributes to the stability of the region and the strengthening of Serbia's positions in Europe, the Russian ambassador said.

BELGRADE, April 18 (Tanjug) - Serbia calls on the United Nations and all its member countries to fully observe its sovereignty and territorial integrity and reject the illegal and unilaterally proclaimed independence of the province of Kosovo and Metohija, and expects at the same time from the UN representative in the province to undertake corresponding steps.

The call, which was addressed to the UN and UNMIK, is part of a commentary by the Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija, announced on the ministry's Website, to the report UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has prepared for the UN SC session on Kosovo scheduled for April 21, which deals with the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) over the past three months.

The crucial event in those three months is a secession of part of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, a sovereign country and a member of the UN, which was performed by the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PIS) that declared the independence of the Kosovo-Metohija province, the Ministry underlined in the text. The act of secession is in contradiction with the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act (OSCE), with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and international documents - UN SC Resolution 1244 (1999) and the Military Technical Agreement (1999) - on the basis of which the province was temporarily governed by UNMIK and KFOR.

Reminding that the unilateral proclamation of independence by secessionists in the Kosovo-Metohija province represented a threat to the stability of Serbia an the region itself, the Ministry pointed to the fact that the support of certain UN member states to Kosovo-Metohija Albanians and the recognition of their unilaterally proclaimed independence represented a precedent. Having recognised the independence, these UN member countries recognised the right to secession of part of the territory of one of the body's member countries without its consent, it is specified in the commentary. With the recognition, these members of the UN acknowledged the right to self-determination and secession to the members of an ethnic minority, and with their recognition, these UN member countries gave legitimacy to ethnic cleansing, it is specified in the text.

The attempt of imposing a solution as fait accompli brings into question the authority of the UN Security Council and violates the sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, it is specified in the commentary. Serbia demands an urgent renewal of UNMIK's original mandate, all in keeping with Resolution 1244, the UN Charter and the principle of impartiality, the Ministry underlined in the text. The next-week UN SC session will be attended, among others, by a representative of the Republic of Serbia.

BELGRADE, April 17 (Beta) - The regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Europe, Marc Danzon, visited Belgrade on April 17, where he discussed further cooperation between Serbia and the WHO, especially regarding vulnerable population groups.

According to a statement of the Serbian Ministry for Health, Danzon met with Serbian President Boris Tadic, who thanked him for his personal effort and the efforts of the WHO in the solving of problems with the supply of medicines to the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija.

Marc Danzon also had a meeting with Minister for Health Tomica Milosavljevic and other representatives of the ministry, it was said in the statement.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, April 17 (Tanjug) - Spokesperson for the OSCE in Kosovo Elli Flen said on Thursday that the OSCE believed that the organisation of Serbian local elections in Kosovo on May 11 would be contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Speaking for the Contact Plus Radio in Kosovska Mitrovica, Flen said that the OSCE stand was the same as UNMIK's stand regarding local elections in Kosovo and stressed that the OSCE recognised the need for elected and not appointed local Serb representatives, but that they could not be elected on May 11, because this deadline for the organization of elections was too short.

Regarding the early elections for the Serbian parliament, the OSCE will neither impede nor assist the process of holding of these elections in Kosovo, Flen said. The OSCE spokesperson said that the organisation would not observe the implementation of the Serbian elections in Kosovo because it did not have the official observer role.

VIENNA, April 17 (Beta) - On April 17, the International Steering Group welcomed the progress Kosovo has made since declaring independence and backed an UNMIK decision to prohibit Serbia from organizing local elections in the province, according to a statement obtained by BETA.

International civilian representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith was present at the Group's second meeting, held in Vienna on April 17, and he briefed the Group on the latest developments in Kosovo.

The organization also denounced as unacceptable recent violence targeting international representatives that led to the tragic death of a U.N. police officer on March 17.

It went on to say that such violence deserved to be condemned and followed by measures to prevent it from happening again, while urging restraint by all sides.

The Group reiterated its support for a multiethnic Kosovo, adding that institutional separation along ethnic lines cannot lead to long-term stability or help the Kosovo communities, which need to be encouraged to take part in democratic, multiethnic administrative bodies.

Welcoming the progress made by the "Republic of Kosovo" in the two months since it declared independence, the Group also pointed out that over 40 countries have recognized Kosovo, including about three quarters of NATO and the EU, and all but one G8 member.

It also lauded the adoption of a new constitution by Kosovo, a document it said adheres to the highest human rights standards and offers broad protection to all communities living in Kosovo, especially Kosovo Serbs.