Belgrade, 21. 03. 2008.

SERBIA/EUROPE- SCANDALE (EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS)

• TADIC CONDEMNS LEN DECISION
• KOSTUNICA: CAVIC TO BE ALLOWED FURTHER COMPETITION
• SAMARDZIC-MARKOVIC: SCANDALOUS DECISION

• JEREMIC SENDS LETTERS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION HEADS
• TADIC: SERBIA HAS NO SECRET PLAN FOR KOSOVO-METOHIJA DIVISION
• BUBALO: SAMARDZIC PLAN DOES NOT ENVISAGE KOSOVO PARTITION
• POPOVIC: SERBIA - AS A WHOLE OR AS CRIPPLED

• TADIC: DECISION BY US PRESIDENT IS DANGEROUS
• SUTANOVAC: WASHINGTON'S DECISION ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY
• SPASOJEVIC: US DECISION DANGER TO SERBIA & REGIONAL SECURITY
• HARRIS: US PRESIDENT'S DECISION IS ROUTINE
• ROGOZIN: U.S. ARMS FORMER TERRORISTS IN KOSOVO
• ROGOZIN SAYS RUSSIA-NATO COUNCIL MAY BE HELD ON MAR 28
• LAVROV: DISPATCH OF WEAPONRY TO KOSOVO ILLEGITIMATE
• THACI WELCOMES U.S. PRESIDENT'S DECISION

• TADIC FOR INVESTIGATION INTO LEAFLETS AGAINST ALBANIANS
• JEREMIC: STEP BACKWARD IN COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL STATES
• BULGARIA RECOGNIZES KOSOVO
• PROTEST NOTE SENT TO BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT
• BULGARIA WANTS POSITIVE POLITICAL PROCESS IN WEST BALKANS
• KALFIN: WE DO NOT WANT BLACK HOLES IN BALKANS
• KRIVOKAPIC: KOSOVO DECISION IN KEEPING WITH EU POLICY
• ROMANIA HOPES NATO-SERBIA DIALOGUE WILL BE PROMOTED
• ALBANIAN PARTY LEADERS URGES SKOPJE TO RECOGNISE KOSOVO

• SPOKESPERSON: BAN KI-MOON IS CONSIDERING SERBIA'S REQUEST
• KFOR GRADUALLY WITHDRAWING FROM NORTHERN MITROVICA
• BAKOYANNIS: DECISION ON KOSOVO RECOGNITION AFTER ANALYSIS

• TADIC WISHES HAPPY PURIM TO JEWS
• TADIC SENDS EASTER CONGRATULATIONS
• MINISTERS SAY ATMOSPHERE AT GOVERNMENT SESSIONS IS GOOD
• DULIC EXPECTS VICTORY OF PRO-EUROPEAN PARTIES
• SAMARDZIC PRESENTS REPORT TO GOVERNMENT
• AMBASSADOR VUKICEVIC IN ASHGABAT

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic on Friday condemned the decision of the European Swimming Federation (LEN) to suspend European champion and record holder Serbian swimmer Milorad Cavic from further competition in the European Championships because he climbed the winners' podium wearing a T-shirt with the words "Kosovo is Serbia" written in the Serbian language. This has inflicted a great injustice to Cavic, Tadic said, as he is a top athlete and an exceptional human being, a person who represented Serbia in its best aspects in all international competitions, the Office of the Serbian President said. "Milorad Cavic did not wish in any way with his gesture to politicize a big European event or to bring politics into sport, his gesture was simply inspired by the feeling of the injustice that has been inflicted on the country that he represents," Tadic said.

BELGRADE, Mar 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica called on all "sensible and responsible people" in the European Swimming Federation to enable Serbian gold medallist Milorad Cavic to participate in the remainder of the European Swimming Championships in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, evaluating the decision to suspend Cavic from further participation in individual events as a "defeat of sports." Cavic is "ready to win more and break European records," underscored Kostunica in his reaction to the decision by the European Swimming League (LEN) to suspend the Serbian swimmer for the remainder of the European swimming championships for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia" at a medal presentation ceremony, after breaking the European 50-meter butterfly record and as he collected gold. "The whole country is proud of the victory of Milorad Cavic, who set a new world record. As the best in Europe, Cavic copied onto his T-shirt the most important sentence from the U.N. Charter which guarantees that Kosovo is part of Serbia. That is why the whole nation is even more proud of Cavic's great victory," underscored Premier Kostunica. Kostunica believes that the decision to suspend Cavic is the defeat of sports and is a miserable attempt to make violence legitimate even at sports events. "I call on all reasonable and responsible perople in the European Swimming Federation to allow Cavic to participate in the remainder of the championship, because he is ready to continue scoring victories and break European records," said Kostunica.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister of Youth and Sports Snezana Samardzic Markovic on Friday assessed as scandalous the decision by the European Swimming Federation (LEN) to suspend Cavic. "I think that a grave injustice was done to our swimmer because he only expressed his opinion, his standpoint that Kosovo is part of Serbia," Samardzic-Markovic told Tanjug. Cavic, who won the first European gold medal in the history of Serbian swimming was also fined with EUR 7,000 because his t-shirt contained a political message, which contravenes the LEN guidelines for safety and security.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic officially addressed on Thursday presidents and director generals of international organisations, forums and agencies, to convey the Serbian government position on the unacceptability of the unilateral illegal declaration of independence of Kosovo and Metohija and pointed to the possible consequences that the illegal act can cause. According to the Foreign Ministry, the letter points out that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and Metohija represents a flagrant violation of international law, UN SC Res 1244, as well as of the Helsinki Final Act. Minister Jeremic called on representatives of international organisations not to accept a possible request for membership by the illegal authorities in Pristina, as that would undermine respect for the Republic of Serbia as a sovereign state, member of the United Nations. The Serbian foreign minister sent a letter to World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan, International Labour Organisation Director-General (ILO) Juan Somavia, UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Director General Brunson McKinley, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed El Baradei. A letter was also sent to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director Dominque Strauss-Kahn, WB President Robert B. Zoellick, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, Universal Postal Union (UPU) Eduardo Dayan, International Union of Railways director general Alejandro Luca, World Customs Organisation Secretary General Michel Danet, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Jean Lemiere, and to many others.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic has rejected speculations on Belgrade's alleged intentions to secure a division of Kosovo and Metohija, and pointed out that the state of Serbia continues to insist on the inviolability of the whole of its territory. "There is no secret plan of the state of Serbia for Kosovo-Metohija's division. At the momemnt, this is an explanation which is being used in the international public in order to explain the newly arisen situation in Kosovo," Tadic said in a live broadcast by the Serbian Radio Television (RTS) late on Thursday. According to him, by strengthening its institutional presence in Kosovo and Metohija, the state of Serbia is simply trying to ensure as many ties as possible with the Serbs that are living in the province and to make their life easier. Tadic underlined that besides the fact that Kosovo and Metohija was being abused in the international public in order to justify the failure of the policy of part of the international community, it was also being misused in Serbia itself, but this time for pre-election purposes.

BELGRADE, March 20(Beta)-Serbian Economy Minister Predrag Bubalo said on March 20 that the plan that Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Slobodan Samardzic had proposed to UMNIK concerned solving the crisis situation, denying that it was a suggestion to partition the province. At a press conference after a Serbian government session, Bubalo said the plan was only a platform for the discussion of Samardzic's ideas, which are not about a possible partition of Kosovo. Bubalo said that Samardzic had consulted with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on the plan and that the idea was to be considered at the next government session if UNMIK were to accept the initiative. However, the minister did not wish to elaborate on the details of the plan at the press conference, simply adding that at the government session on March 20, Samardzic spoke in detail about the March 17 events in the province. Samardzic submitted an agreement proposal with UMNIK to its deputy chief, Larry Rossin, after Kosovo's independence declaration.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Minister of Energy and Mining, Aleksandar Popovic, has said that after the government's fall, all inter-party consultations with coalition partners have been suspended because of the serious differences regarding basic political stands on Kosovo and Metohija. "We have working relations, which are characteristic for a technical government, with Deputy Prime Minister (Bozidar) Djelic and the DS members of the government. But if you are asking me about inter-party relations, it is only logical, because of the present circumstances, that there are no such relations," Popovic said. Popovic said that once the EULEX Mission was sent to Kosovo, things would have to be made clear as to how the European Union saw Serbia - as a whole or as crippled.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Tadic expressed dissatisfaction with the decision by US President Bush to allow the export of US arms to Kosovo. Tadic pointed out that such a decision by the US president comes at a very sensitive moment for Serbia and the Serbian people in Kosovo. According to him, the Washington's decision could be understood if it referred to an independent state, which Kosovo is not, and, as he pointed out, never will be. "The US administration in this case had to be restrained," he assessed.

BELGRADE, Mar 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac on Friday evaluated that Washington's decision to approve sending arms to Kosovo was untimely, adding that Kosovo and Metohija is the region of Serbia where primarily economy has to be developed. "I believe that the decision to supply arms is absolutely unnecessary," said Sutanovac, adding that, on the other side, all countries in the region express their doubts about it, in view of the fact that it remains unknown who would endanger security in Kosmet. "I expected the decision to be focused on strengthening of economic resources in Kosovo and on helping Serbs and Albanian alike to live a better life and to strengthen Kosovo's economy, and not to strengthen it with arms," he told reporters at the Topcider barracks.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defence Ministry state secretary Dusan Spasojevic assessed on Thursday that the U.S. decision to deliver weapons to Kosovo adds fuel to the fire and that the formation of some kind of army in Kosovo would be dangerous for the security of Serbia and of the region as a whole. "Such a decision is least needed by Kosovo and Metohija. During the Vienna negotiations on status, Serbia had a principled position that the formation of any kind of army of independent Kosovo was a red line that we are not ready to tolerate and to cross," Spasojevic told reporters. He characterised as inadmissible any kind of initiative that envisages the creation of some kind of army in Kosovo and Metohija and cautioned that it was a danger to the national security of Serbia and to the security of the region as a whole. "Kosovo and Metohija needs peace and stability, and not adding fuel to the fire," Serbia's Defense Ministry state secretary said, pointing out that in Kosovo and Metohija there were already sufficient quantities of weapons and that it does not need any new ones. Spasojevic underlined that Serbia should continue to defend in a peaceful and dignified manner its territorial integrity and national interests. "National security does not rest only on weapons, but first and foremost on a good diplomacy, a good economy and educated people, and that is what the entire region lacks, particularly Kosovo" he said.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - US President George Bush's decision to allow the export of arms from the United States to Kosovo is routine and does not represent the US intention to arm Kosovo, Tanjug was told at the US Embassy in Belgrade on Thursday. US Embassy spokeswoman Rian Harris said that this was a routine decision which the United States had adopted not just for Kosovo, but previously also for Serbia, other countries in the Balkans and most countries in the world. US President Bush on Thursday signed a presidential decision which describes Kosovo as a recipient of defence items and services, under Plan 503 of the 1961 law on assistance to overseas countries and Article 3 of the law on the arms export control, the US Embassy said. According to Harris, this means that the president believes that the military assistance will reinforce the US security and promote world peace. She said that it was too early to say which types of items and services would be secured under this decision because each request in this sense should come from the Kosovo government and go through a lengthy assessment process. This decision could refer to the supply with individual light weapons, Harris said and added that this did not include the equipment which would be appropriate for the offensive force. Serbian officials' statements which describe this decision as a US intention to arm Kosovo are completely untrue, she said.

MOSCOW/BRUSSELS, March 20 (Tanjug) - Russia's permanent representative in NATO Dimitry Rogozin accused on Thursday the United States that, by extending military aid to Kosovo, it is arming "former terrorists." The move can lead to new terrorist clashes in the Balkans, Rogozin cautioned, commenting on the decision of U.S. President George Bush to approve an arms delivery to Kosovo. "To give former terrorists weapons for the war on terror sounds interesting to say the least. It is well known that those who are in power in Kosovo got their positions as organisers and leaders of KLA, considered by many states as a terrorist organisation," Rogosin told Interfaks news agency. According to a White House statement, Bush approved an arms delivery to Kosovo is sign of the establishment of relations after the recognmition of the independence of the southern Serbian province.

BRUSSELS, March 20 (Tanjug) - An urgent informal session of the Russia-NATO Council, where US plans for sending arms to Kosovo will be discussed, may be held on March 28, Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitri Rogozin said in Brussels on Thursday, according to Itar-Tass. Russia has called for an urgent session from the UN secretary-general on the occasion of the US decision to send military assistance to Kosovo. "To give arms for the war against terrorism to former terrorists is interesting, to say the least, if not even worse than that. It is well known that those in power in Kosovo have gained their positions as the organisers and leaders of the KLA, which many states regard as a terrorist organisation," Rogozin told the Interfax news agency. The White House explained that Bush's approval of arms deliveries to Kosovo was a usual process within the establishment of relations between two countries. NATO officials said that they were not privy to any Russian request regarding the holding of the Russia-NATO Council meeting. Reports on US arms deliveries to Kosovo come at a time when international forces cannot deal with outbreaks of violence, Rogozin said. If the arms are used against Serb protesters, the question about the responsibility of individual countries for the escalation of the conflict will be raised, he added.

TEL AVIV, March 21 (Tanjug) - Any dispatch of weaponry to Kosovo is illegitimate if it stands outside the format of UN SC Res 1244, Russian FM Lavrov told a news conference in Tel Aviv late on Thursday. This Resolution sets up the only legitimate framework for settling the situation in Kosovo,Lavrov said, and Itar-Tass reported. "It doesn't allow creation of Kosovo's own armed forces or any supplies of weaponry there, except for the weaponry needed by the international contingent deployed there on the SC's mandate," he said. "No doubt, we'll analyse what is happening in Kosovo now and I'd like to think these supplies don't pursue the goal of coercion of the Serbs or other ethnic minorities to remaining within the format of an illegally proclaimed state," the Russian foreign minister said. "I don't think this will add more stability to the Balkans, as the contrary is more likely to happen then," Lavrov said.

PRISTINA, March 20(Beta)-Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci welcomed U.S. President George Bush's decision to authorize an arms shipment to Kosovo. During a Kosovo government session Thaci said that relations between the U.S. and Kosovo are good."The relationship between Pristina and Washington are specific and excellent. The presence of American KFOR soldiers and other NATO troops is always welcomed and especially supported by all the citizens," said Kosovo's prime minister. In Pristina, the U.S. president's decision is seen as an assessment of the importance of Kosovo in regional stability and, according to analysts, a sign that the U.S. seriously understands the issue of security in Kosovo and the region.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic called for an urgent investigation by relevant state bodies, so as to find the organisers of the action to boycott bakeries whose owners are Albanians and Goranies living in Sombor. A statement of the President's press services said that Tadic condemned such discriminatory actions against our citizens and called for the prevention of any form of such pressures in the future. Every citizen of Serbia has the same rights under the Constitution and the law, regardless of national, religious affiliation and race. Every citizen of Serbia has the right to live to work and earn food for their families and no one has the right to take that away from them," Tadic underlined. The Serbian president called on the citizens of Sombor not to give in to provocations and to maintain a spirit of tolerance and good neighborly relations that have been fostered throughout their history. On Thursday morning in a part of Sombor citizens found in their mail boxes leaflets calling for the boycott of bakeries owned by ethnic Albanians.

BELGRADE, March 20(Beta)-Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated on March 20 that because Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria have recognized the independence of Kosovo, the cooperation which was developed with those countries will take a step backward. Bulgaria recognized Kosovo on March 20, while Croatia and Hungary recognized on March 19 the Kosovo government decision to proclaim independence. Jeremic told B92 that this represents a "step backward" in their relationship with Serbia, adding that whichever country recognized Kosovo's independence and decided to infringe on the territorial integrity of Serbia cannot expect to have the same relationship with Serbia that they had previously.

He added that the foreign ministries in those countries had already been sent letters of severe protest and that the ambassadors had been ordered to immediately withdraw and return to Serbia for consultations. Commenting on the call of the LD Party not to withdraw ambassadors from countries which recognize Kosovo's independence, Jeremic said that if Serbia were not to react diplomatically it would not be considered a serious country.

To date, around 20 Serbian ambassadors from countries which have recognized Kosovo have been recalled to Belgrade for "consultation until further notice." Kosovo has been recognized by 33 countries. In some of these countries Serbia does not have an ambassador or diplomatic relations are on a charge d'affaires level, while others have nonresident ambassadors. Jeremic recently said that ambassadors could return to the countries from where they were withdrawn in September when the U.N. GA convenes.

SOFIA, Mar 20 (Tanjug) - The Bulgarian Government on Thursday took a decision to recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo under international supervision and to establish diplomatic relations with Pristina at the ambassadorial level. Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and FM Ivailo Kalfin are expected to make official statements on recognition of Kosovo during the course of the day, the BTA reported.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Foreign Ministry on Thursday sent a protest note to the Bulgarian government against its recognition of unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo-Metohija. In accordance with the Serbian Foreign Ministry's action plan, adopted at a Serbian government session, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on Thursday called for an urgent withdrawal of Serbian Ambassador to Bulgaria Danilo Vucetic, the Ministry said in a statement.

SOFIA, March 20 (Tanjug) - Bulgaria is not choosing between Serbia and Kosovo, but between the possibility of the international community actively working on establishing a positive political process in the West Balkans on the one hand and creation of conflicts and violence on the other, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said on Thursday. "When speaking about the national interest, we do not have to choose between Kosovo and Serbia - this is a ridiculous choice - but we choose between the only possibility for the international community to interfere and commit actively to the establishment of a positive political process in the Western Balkans, on the one hand, and, on the other, the creation of a conflict, aggravating into violence," Kalfin said, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reported. Speaking at a joint news conference with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, Kalfin said that Bulgaria did not plan to withdraw its ambassador from Belgrade and that it would continue to make active efforts to promote good neighbourly relations and Serbia's path towards the European Union. Bulgaria, together with Hungary and Croatia, on Wednesday issued a statement on the recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and these are the first three neighbours of Serbia which have decided to take this step.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Bulgaria decided to recognize Kosovo's independece because the situation was very bad due to the lack of agreement between Belgrade and Prisitna, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said in an interview for the Friday issue of the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. Now we can only fix the damage made and limit the negative consequences, he said. For Bulgaria, the main criteria for the recognition was to ensure a possibility for the entire region to head for the European Union and not to create black holes in the Balkans, Kalfin said. According to him, such a possibility exists and that's why the Ahtisaari plan should be implemented. He holds that in the past a mistake was made because Kosovo was politicaly entirely separated form Serbia during the international protectorate. If we make the same mistake with the northern part of Kosovo in regard to Pristina, we could pull a trigger of modification of borders, Kalfing said. The north should take part in the political life of Kosovo and the Kosovo Serbs should be active players on the political scene of Kosovo, the Bulgarian foreign minister said and pointed out that any partition on ethnic basis would be dangerous for the region and in the future for Serbia.

PODGORICA/LJUBLJANA, March 20 (Tanjug) - Montenegrin parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapic said in Ljubljana on Thursday that Monenegro would act in keeping with the EU policy with regards the western Balkans and Kosovo. Krivokapic said that Monenegro's decision would wait "for this policy to become as united and comprehensive as possible, and that its decision would be made at a time when its contribution would be the greatest for the stability of the region and Montenegro." Underscoring that Montenegro is a part of the EU system, Krivokapic added that it has always clearly expressed its stands on Kosovo. He reiterated that Montenegro's aim is to preserve regional and domestic stability.

BUCHAREST, Mar 21 (Tanjug) - Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu has expressed hope that dialogue with Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro will be promoted at the forthcoming NATO summit. "In regards to Serbia, we hope that a strong message will be sent out from the summit in Bucharest in which NATO's readiness to cooperate with Belgrade when the Serbian authorities are ready, of course, will be underlined," Said Cioroianu after a meeting of the state leadership, at which the country's preparations for a two-day NATO summit on April 2 were analyzed. Cioroianu expressed hope that Belgrade will soon show readiness to move closer to NATO, Rompress reported.

PRISTINA, March 20 (Tanjug) - Democratic Union for Integration leader Ali Ahmeti said in Pristina on Thursday that Macedonian Albanians will contribute constructively for Macedonia to recognise as soon as possible the independence of Kosovo, Pristina electronic media in the Albanian language have reported. Ahmeti, after a series of meetings with representatives of Kosovo institutions, said that Macedonia would "contribute to the significant process that Kosovo and the region are going through." President of the self declared stated of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hasim Thaci and Assembly President Jakup Krasnichi, following a meeting with Ahmeti, said that they conferred with Albanian party leaders in Macedonia on developments in Kosovo and in Macedonia, voicing a strong wish and support for Macedonian's efforts to become a member of NATO.

NEWYORK, March 20(Beta)-U.N. Secretary General Ban Kimoon is considering Serbia's request to carry out an investigation into the unrest in Kosovska Mitrovica, Brenden Varma, the secretary general's spokesperson, told BETA on March 20."The secretary general has taken note of Serbia's request for an investigation into the incidents," Varma said, adding that Ban Kimoon "is considering the issue."

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, March 20 (Tanjug) - Belgian peacekeepers within Kfor withdrew at 2 p.m. on Thursday from the north part of Kosovska Mitrovica and from positions close to the district and municipal courthouse, where they were stationed since March 17 after the UNMIK police and Kfor clashed with the local Serbs. The Belgian Kfor pulled out its military trucks and combat vehicles which were parked before the Pristina University Rectorate, which is temporarily located in Kosovska Mitrovica. Fully armed French Kfor troops remain in front of the courthouse in north Kosovska Mitrovica, while the main gate before the police station remains blocked. All the remaining Kfor troops are expected to be replaced by the Kosovo and UNMIK police by Friday. Following last Monday's clashes, the situation in Kosovska Mitrovica is slowly returning to normal and there were no incidents today.

TIRANA, March 20 (Tanjug) - Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said in Tirana on Thursday that Greece will examine the situation carefully before taking a decision whether to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. We are extremely keen to preserve peace and stability in the region. As you know, Greece has troops within Kfor. It is our firm belief that the EU's political mission should be there in Kosovo and we will also joint that mission. But, a decision on the recognition of Kosovo has not been made yet, Bakoyannis said at a press conference in Tirana, where she is on an official visit.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic wished on Friday a happy Purim to all the members of the Jewish community in Serbia and the Chief Rabbi of Serbia, Isak Asiel. "I congratulate all the citiezens of Serbia who celebrate Purim, one of the most joyous Jewish holidays. May you spend it in peace, hapiness and well-being,"Tadic said.

BELGRADE, Mar 21 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Tadic forwarded his best wishes for Easter holidays to Roman Catholic Archbishop Stanislav Hocevar of Belgrade,clergymen, believers and all citizens who celebrate the great Christian holiday according to the Gregorian calendar. "At the time of big challenges, I would like us to preserve the fundamental values of our society and to recognize a common path towards permanent stability. I wish you to spend the holiday in peace, among families, friends and neighbors," Tadic said.

BELGRADE, March 20(Beta)-Several ministers of the Serbian government stated on March 20 that government sessions are held in a correct atmosphere, despite political disagreements among the coalition partners. The minister for the economy and regional development, Mladjan Dinkic, stated on March 20 that the atmosphere during government sessions has so far been good, regardless of "the sparks flying in public." Dinkic said there has been much disagreement during sessions, but "within the domain of democratic discussion, with the tone never crossing certain boundaries." Minister of Commerce Bubalo said at a news conference after the government session that, despite political disagreements among the member parties of the technical government, the atmosphere at the sessions is normal.Minister of Agriculture Slobodan Milosavljevic has confirmed the claims that ministers of the technical government are holding their sessions in a good atmosphere, recollecting the ministers' obligation to do their jobs as before until the election of the new government.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic said Thursday that he expects the pro-european parties to win at the May 11 elections and that the electorate will opt for the continuation of european integrations and the implementation of a state policy which implies a diplomatic fight for territorial integrity. "We should be aware that, currently, Serbia is divided into two political options and I am convinced that the pro-european one will prevail. We will try to explain to the citizens that this process is important for them and their families and I hope that, when they are faced with the two programs, the pro-eurppean one will win," Dulic told the Parliament Network in an interview. He stated that he is certain that, after May 11, the political scene will be completely changed, that there will be several surprises and that the number of deputy clubs and MPs would change.

BELGRADE, March 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic on Thurday presented to the Serbian government a detailed report on developments in the northern part of Kosovska MItrovica on March 17 and presented an information on an agreement on cooperation his Ministry had offered to UNMIK. Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo told a news conference after the government session that the agreement, which he said mostly referred to the possibility of cooperation between Belgrade and UNMIK in the resolution of crisis situations, had been harmonised between Samardzic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. Bubalo said that Samardzic and Jeremic had harmonised all main principles of the agreement which had been offered to UNMIK as a platform for negotiations and which would be reviewed by the Serbian government in the final stage of harmonisation. Bubalo did not want to talk about the details of the agreement at the news conference.

BELGRADE, March 21 (Tanjug) -Newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Serbia to Turkmenistan and Serbian Ambassador to Russia Stanimir Vukicevic, who will perform his duties in Turkmenistan on a non-residential basis, has presented his credentials to Turkmen parliament speaker Akja Nurberdiyva, the Serbian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement. During the ceremony Ambassador Vukicevic received an epistle by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the greetings and best wishes to Serbian President Boris Tadic, the statement said.