Belgrade, 29. 04. 2008.

EU - SERBIA

• EU COUNCIL OFFERS SERBIA TO SIGN SAA TODAY
• BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS GIVE CONDITIONAL AGREEMENT FOR SAA
• JUNCKER SAYS SERBIA BELONGS TO EUROPEAN FAMILY
• EU CONSIDERS SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR POSITIVE SIGNALS
• GALLACH: EU WANTS TO SIGN SAA

• TADIC - INTEGRITY WILL NOT BE DEFENDED WITHOUT JOINING WORLD
• KOSTUNICA SAYS SERBIA DOES NOT TRADE IN ITS TERRITORY
• KOSTUNICA - WHOEVER SIGNS SAA WILL HELP BREAK UP SERBIA
• JEREMIC SAYS SERBIA SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS WITH APPLYING TO ICJ
• JEREMIC SAYS KOSOVO IS PART OF SERBIA
• JEREMIC EXPECTS SIGNAL FOR SERBIA'S FULL MEMBERSHIP IN EU
• JEREMIC: BELGIUM AND NETHERLANDS ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE SAA
• SUTANOVAC: AGREEMENT WITH EU WILL BE SIGNED
• LJAJIC REQUESTS POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR SAA FROM CE
• DULIC URGES IMMINENT SIGNING OF SAA
• LONCAR: SERBIA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE "SOLANA'S AGREEMENT"

• SERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ACCEPTED AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA
• ILIC SAYS AGREEMENT TO BE RATIFIED AFTER MAY 11 ELECTIONS
• KHRISTENKO SAYS RUSSIAN-SERBIAN RELATIONS ARE STRATEGIC
• KONUZIN: PROSPEROUS SERBIA RUSSIA'S INTEREST

• SERBIA PROTESTS TO BURKINA FASO ON RECOGNIZING KOSOVO
• NUMBER OF SERBIAN VOTERS ABROAD GROWS BY 40 PCT
• NOVI SAD RUNS FOR EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
• FIRST WEST BALKAN FILM FESTIVAL HELD IN BRUSSELS
• NAGAI SAYS SERBIA SHOULD SEND AMBASSADOR BACK TO JAPAN
• SERBIA REMAINS OPEN FOR COOPERATION WITH BULGARIA

• TADIC FELICITATES EASTER TO PATRIARCH PAVLE
• PATRIARCH PAVLE'S EASTER MESSAGE READ IN OPLENAC CHURCH
• SERBIA DEDICATED TO ITS PEOPLE AND KOSOVO'S HOLY PLACES

• BAN SAYS UN CONTINUES TO WORK WITHIN ITS MANDATE
• TACI CALLS FOR CALMNESS FOR SERBIAN ELECTIONS
• DE KERMABON SAYS BRUSSELS SHOULD CHOOSE BTW EULEX, UNMIK

LUXEMBOURG, April 29 (Tanjug) - The Council of Ministers of the European Union has offered Serbia to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) during the day, it was stated in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

The president of the Council, Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, told reporters that Serbian President Boris Tadic would be given an official invitation to sign the SAA at 4 p.m. CET on Tuesday.

According to Rupel, the ministers of the EU member countries decided that Serbia be offered to sign during the day the SAA, as well as a temporary agreement, an accompanying document on the basis of which Serbia will be able to use almost 90 percent of the benefits the SAA offers even before the document is ratified by all the EU member states. The implementation of this adjoining document will depend, as the Slovenian minister explained, on the Council's assessment of the fulfillment of Serbia's cooperation with The Hague Tribunal.

Earlier in the day, Rupel's spokesman Bojan Brezigar informed reporters about the Union's decision and noted that around noon, the Slovenian foreign minister had spoken with President Tadic over the phone.

BRUSSELS, April 26 (Tanjug) - Belgium and the Netherlands are ready to give their agreement to the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia before May 11 on condition that Belgrade be denied the right to use the benefits of the SAA before completing its cooperation with the ICTY, the Belgian Foreign Ministry told Tanjug on Saturday.

Belgian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marc Michielsen said that Belgium and the Netherlands had taken a joint stand on conditions for signing the SAA with Serbia. Asked by Tanjug whether this meant that Belgium and the Netherlands would agree to the signing of the SAA in Luxembourg, Michielsen said that there was room for progress on the basis of the above mentioned principles. Michielsen said that the EU foreign ministers would start a debate on the possibility for signing the SAA with Serbia in Luxembourg early on Tuesday. This schedule would make it possible that some of the Serbian officials sign the SAA in the afternoon if the European Union reached a consensus.

LONDON, April 26 (Tanjug) - Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junker has said that Serbia belongs to the European family of nations, the BBC of London reported late on Friday. Junker was speaking after a meeting with the new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow on Thursday.

The prime minister of Luxembourg, one of the EU founders, said at a joint news conference with Medvedev that they had discussed the Balkans during the meeting. He said he believed that the union of Western Balkan states needed a real European future. Junker added that there was no other way for these countries, but to get closer to the European Union. As for Serbia, its natural place is in the European family, he said and added that he did not believe that Russia's stand on this issue was any different.

LUXEMBURG, Apr 29 (Tanjug) - Chairman of the EU Council Slovenia's Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel stated in Luxemburg late on Sunday that the EU is considering several options for sending a "positive signal" to the citizens of Serbia, but that there are serious reservations by some EU member states towards the signing of a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

Rupel underscored that no formal negotiations on the signing of the SAA were conducted in Luxemburg since this will be the topic of today's meeting of the EU Council of Ministers, but he underlined that there had been negotiations and persuasion behind the scene. Although Rupel did not name individual countries that pressure is being imposed on, it is certain that Belgium and Netherlands are the countries in questions, since they do not wish to change their stand that they would sign the SAA only if Serbia would not be allowed to benefit from the agreement's facilities before it completes its cooperation with the ICTY.

BELGRADE, Apr 29 (Tanjug) - Spokesperson of EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana Cristina Gallach has stated in Brussels that the European Union wants to sign a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia today but that it is unclear whether it would be possible because a decision has to be unanimous.

In any case, Serbia's citizens should know that the European Union wants close relations with Serbia, Gallach said in a statement with Serbia's state television RTS. According to Gallach, this is an important message that should be sent out now, because the issue of the European Union is so strongly present in the pre-election process.

BELGRADE, April 26 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic has said that without joining the world Serbia cannot defend its integrity and that European integration could not be ensured without defending integrity.

"The best way out of a deadlock resulting from the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo would be to continue status negotiations; Serbia's signature on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union would once again reaffirm Resolution 1244 and there can be no mention of giving up Kosovo," Tadic told the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti in an interview. He said that the latest UN Security Council session had shown that there was a deep division among members on the issue of Kosovo-Metohija.

Tadic said that Serbia would try to ensure the majority of countries that wanted the observation of the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 and which did not accept illegal independence of Kosovo by the September session of the UN General Assembly. Asked if he was in favor of signing the SAA with the European Union before elections, Tadic said that it would be useful for Serbia and its citizens if the Agreement were signed as soon as it was offered.

BELGRADE, April 25 (Tanjug) - Commenting on a statement to the Belgrade daily Politika by EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Friday that Serbia did not trade in its territory and that after these and all other elections Kosovo would remain an integral and inalienable part of Serbia.

"EU Commissioner Olli Rehn clarified he urged the signing of a stabilisation and association agreement between the European Union and Serbia and that Serbia's commitment was to establish good neighborly relations with Kosovo," Kostunica said in a statement sent to Tanjug.

"Since the EU commissioner conveyed the EU stand openly, we will have to say in an equally open way that we most decisively reject Rehn's request that Serbia establish good neighborly relations with itself, i.e. part of its territory," Kostunica said. "The obligation to establish good neighborly relations literally means for Serbia to recognize the existence of an independent Albanian state in its territory," Kostunica said and added that "most likely Olli Rehn does not understand that this will never happen and that Serbia will never sign to take over such a commitment."

BELGRADE, April 26 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Saturday that anybody who signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union on behalf of Serbia would help achieve the true goal of the document - the disintegration of Serbia and recognition of Kosovo's independence. Kostunica is confident that every Serbian citizen could see that things were being concealed and that there was something seriously wrong with the "Solana agreement" which is offered to Serbia to sign.

"The statements of Olli Rehn and other EU officials show that there is just one real goal of the signing of the Solana agreement and that is to claim tomorrow that Serbia has recognized the false state of Kosovo," Kostunica told the Tanjug news agency. He said that Kosovo's unilateral independence had been declared deliberately after the initialing and before the signing of the agreement with the European Union, in order to ensure that Serbia's signature could be interpreted as the recognition of independence of the "first NATO state in the world." "Today we must ask who in Serbia may ignore these facts and conceal the true goal of the Solana agreement," Kostunica said. He concluded that therefore nobody could ever sign the Solana agreement which was against Serbia in Serbia's name.

BELGRADE, April 25 (Tanjug) - If Serbia filed an application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against some of the EU member-states that had recognized Kosovo as a state, the political condition for Serbia's EU membership would then for the first time be linked to Kosovo, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said for the Friday issue of the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti.

We must therefore be careful when we choose the way in which we will use this key institution of international law and which we refer to in our defence of Kosovo-Metohija. Asked what the concrete consequences of such an application would be, Jeremic responded that "any sued EU member-state would almost certainly block the process of Serbia's integration in the European Union until the withdrawal of the application, which would be difficult if the recognition were not withdrawn." "This would directly stop our EU integration and I am confident in saying that this would not deter other countries from recognizing Kosovo to any greater extent, as some claim. Therefore, the court should be used in another way - by requesting its opinion on the legality of declaration of independence," Jeremic said

LONDON, April 26 (Tanjug) - Kosovo is part of Serbia according to our Constitution, international law and under UN Security Council decisions, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the BBC of London in an interview on Saturday.

Jeremic said that powerful international sponsors had been necessary for Kosovo's illegal decision to unilaterally declare independence. Fortunately, there are international laws and the UN Security Council, and Serbia, which does not use the right to use force, uses all available diplomatic, political and legal means to prevent Pristina's illegitimate decision, Jeremic said.

Asked by the BBC whether Serbia would have an open way to joining the European Union if it recognized Kosovo and signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Jeremic said he hoped that Belgrade would not receive this indecent proposal, because it would say

LUXEMBOURG, April 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in a statement for Tanjug on Monday, after a meeting with European officials in Luxembourg, that it can be expected of Tuesday's meeting of the European Union (EU) foreign ministers to send a signal for the full membership of Serbia in the EU.

"I have spoken with the EU chairman, with the EU Troika, we are in constant communication with the highest ranking officials of the EU. I believe we have reason to be optimistic and that in the course of Tuesday, while the meeting of the EU foreign ministers is under way, we can expect a positive development of the situation," Jeremic told Tanjug. The Serbian foreign minister said that he expects, tomorrow, "a firm, clear signal that the doors of the EU for full membership in the Union are open for Serbia."

"Naturally, we are also talking about the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, but I believe it is not of crucial importance at this moment. It is not of crucial importance whether this signing will take place tomorrow, or at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers," Jeremic said.

LUXEMBOURG, April 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in a statement for Tanjug on Monday that The Netherlands and Belgium attempted to change the text of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) initialed with Serbia, but that their proposal was not accepted at the meeting of the European Union (EU) officials in Luxembourg.

"The discussion about the initiative by The Netherlands and Belgium lasted some ten minutes but it did not meet with the support of the other European Union members, so that there will be no such changes," Jeremic said. Serbia agrees to sign only the text of the SAA as it was initialed, the foreign minister was adamant. A signal for the full membership of Serbia in the Union can be expected from tomorrow's meeting of the EU foreign ministers, Jeremic told Tanjug after his meetings with European officials in Luxembourg.

BELGRADE, Apr 24 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defense Minister and Democratic Party (DS) Vice-President Dragan Sutanovac stated on Thursday that Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic would sign a stabilization and association agreement (SAA) with the EU, if it were offered to Serbia.

"The government has absolutely completed all technical conditions and has negotiated everything about that agreement," Sutanovac said in an interview with TV B92. So far, 25 out of the 27 EU member-states support signing of the SAA with Serbia, said he, adding that all EU officials had expressed understanding about Serbia's need to sign the agreement. Sutanovac said that the outgoing government presently did not have the capacity to make the decision on signing the SAA, but that the decision had already been made while the government had full capacity.

PARIS, April 25 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy and head of the National Council for Cooperation with the ICTY Rasim Ljajic told Tanjug on Friday that he had requested political support for the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) in Strasbourg.

"I requested the support for the signing of the SAA," Ljajic told Tanjug after his Friday meeting with Council of Europe (CE) Secretary General Terry Davis and added that although this was to be decided by the European Union, Serbia requested political support at the Council of Europe, the organization which included EU member-states. He said that diplomatic activites would continue as long as there was minimum chance of signing the SAA.

BELGRADE, April 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian National Assembly President Oliver Dulic said on Monday that it is important for Serbia as soon as possible to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU), because it would become an EU associate member through that act.

"It is necessary to step up the process of European integrations as much as possible and consequently to change Serbia, modernize it, normalize it, and make it decent to such an extent that it could become a member of the EU in a few years," Dulic said, speaking on Belgrade-based TV B92.

The SAA is one of the key steps toward that goal, Dulic stressed. Asked by B92 whether Serbia will be offered to sign the SAA tomorrow, Dulic's answer was: "That is one of the things that could happen." That would be good news for Serbia, he said, because "we have wasted a lot of time."

BELGRADE, April 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Education Minister Zoran Loncar has said, on the occasion of announcements that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) could be signed on Tuesday, that Serbia will not recognize that signature and that the new government and parliament will annul such an agreement.

"We can see that the coalition (Nenad) Canak-(Democratic Party)DS-G17Plus is preparing to sign (Javier) Solana's Agreement on Tuesday, which means that (Serbian President Boris) Tadic's oath that he will never recognize independent Kosovo was valid until he was offered to sign Solana's Agreement," Loncar said in a statement received by Tanjug.

"The real name of Solana's Agreement is Deception, and the objective of this deception is that Serbia should recognize Kosovo as the first NATO state in the world," Loncar said. In this way, it will be revealed before the eyes of the entire Serb nation that Tadic swore falsely, Loncar said. "It is now also being revealed why the unilateral independence (of Kosovo) was proclaimed between the initialing and the signing of the SAA, and why 17 states of the EU recognized this false state after the initialing of the agreement and before its signing," Loncar underscored.

BELGRADE, April 24 (Tanjug) - Serbian Finance Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said on Thursday that a draft law on the ratification of an energy agreement with Russia had not received the support of the majority of Serbian ministers, which was why it could not be sent to parliament for ratification before a new convocation of parliament was formed.

Speaking at a news conference at the Serbian government, he said that the ministers from the DS had said they supported the agreement and that they would vote for its ratification once the new convocation of parliament was formed. Cvetkovic said that the DS ministers had assessed that if the vote took place on Thursday it might bring into question the legality of the government's work and legitimity of the agreement itself. Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo said that it was irresponsible from the former coalition partners not to agree to send the agreement for ratification. He said that the agreement had been signed and approved by the government in full capacity before it was signed.

Minister for Infrastructure Velimir Ilic said that this was a big delay that would cost Serbia a lot and that it was not possible to explain why "some formalities are requested" since the agreement had already been approved by the government and signed.

MOSCOW, April 25 (Tanjug) - Understanding was voiced at a meeting between Serbian Minister for Infrastructure Velimir Ilic and Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko on Friday that an agreement on cooperation in the oil and gas sector, signed in Moscow on January 25, be ratified after the May 11 early parliamentary elections.

It was agreed to wait for the ratification until after May 11, at one of the first parliament sessions, so that the technical government may send to parliament the ratification proposal because nothing would change, Ilic told reporters after the meeting in Moscow. "They understood us, I expected and (Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei) Shoigu announced that there would be certain problems, but we came across understanding and they understood the problems at the government," he said. Gazprom representatives were also present at the meeting and accepted this situation, Ilic said.

MOSCOW, April 25 (Tanjug) - During a meeting with Serbian Infrastructure Minister Velimir Ilic, Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko stressed the strategic character of relations between Serbia and Russia, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Energies said in a statement on Friday.

During the meeting, Khristenko said that the agreement on cooperation in the field of oil and gas between Russia and Serbia, signed in Moscow on January 25, "creates preconditions for the modernization of the Serbian oil processing industry, spreading of its regional potential and, most importantly, provides guarantees for stable and long-term fuel deliveries." The Ministry said that the parties had praised the future of bilateral cooperation in the field of oil processing and gas "in the interest of ensuring European energy safety."

BELGRADE, April 29 (Tanjug) - Russian Ambassador in Belgrade Alexander Konuzin said on Monday that Russia's interest is prosperous Serbia, as well as that Serbia needs to assess for itself as to how to achieve prosperity.

"If you believe that the EU membership will elevate the standard of living of the people and that you will be able to take advantage of the international cooperation during the EU integration, then - go ahead," Konuzin said in an exclusive interview to Tanjug agency, the first one since he has assumed his duties. The Russian ambassador assessed that Serbia's further progress towards the European Union, in his opinion, is possible only if based on mutual respect and equality, which, "according to many in Belgrade, is not the case at this point, because Serbia's membership is conditioned with abandoning a part of its territory." Konuzin explained that last year in November, when the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was signed, Brussels and Belgrade governed themselves according to these principles.

"Dramatic events occurred in the meantime. Eighteen countries out of 27 EU member states agreed with the illegal disintegration of Serbia and recognized the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, supporting the separatists," the Russian diplomat said. After that, the EU sent a mission to Kosovo (Eulex) with the goal of strengthening Kosovo's statehood, contrary to the will and objections of authorities of the Republic of Serbia, Konuzin added. "Can we talk about mutual respect of the two sides in this situation?

Why the EU wishes to the other side something it certainly would not wish for itself," the ambassador wondered. Considering all these facts, the ambassador assessed, it is clear that Serbia is actually "faced with an ultimatum" from the European Union.

BELGRADE, Apr 24 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Ministry addressed Thursday a protest note to the government of Burkina Faso on its recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo-Metohija.

The unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo-Metohija is a serious violation of international law and Serbia demands that countries which recognized it reconsider their decision, the note says.

BELGRADE, Apr 24 (Tanjug)- The number of Serbian voters registered abroad has reached 52,000 for the forthcoming parliamentary elections on May 11, which is 40 percent more than for the presidential elections held in February, the Diaspora Ministry said Thursday.

The number of polling stations will therefore be increased from 65 to 78. New polling stations will be opened in Vancouver, Montreal, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Luxemburg, Vicenza, Luzern, Sierre, Qatar, in the embassies in Cairo, Sarajevo, Kuwait and Damascus and in the consulate in Istanbul.

NOVI SAD, Apr 24 (Tanjug) - Novi Sad Mayor Maja Gojkovic has suggested to EU officials that Novi Sad should submit its nomination as the European capital of culture in 2013 or 2016, the mayor's cabinet announced on Thursday.

The initiative was addressed to European Education, Training, Culture and Youth Commissioner Jan Figel and directors of the EU Council General Administration for Education, Training, Culture and Youth Sandor Szabo and Luc Lapeyre, and it was underscored that Novi Sad meets all of the criteria for the title.

Novi Sad is known as the capital of culture of Serbia and the towns where a number of festivals and other international cultural events, such as Nomus, Infant, Exit, are being held.

BRUSSELS, April 24 (Tanjug) - The first festival of Western Balkan films, which included the Serbian films Huddersfield by Ivan Zivkovic and Midwinter Night's Dream by Goran Paskaljevic, ended in Brussels on Thursday.

During the three-day festival, eight films from five countries - Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Croatia - were presented. The festival was organized by the European Commission in cooperation with the Brussels organization Balkan Traffic, which promotes the Balkan culture.

BELGRADE, April 25 (Tanjug) - Japanese Ambassador to Serbia Tadashi Nagai has invited Serbian authorities to send back the ambassador who was withdrawn from Japan for consultations on March 18, after this state recognized the unilateral independence of Kosovo-Metohija.

Serbia should send the ambassador back to Japan. In these difficult times Serbia should have its ambassador in Tokio and should not keep him at "consultations" for so long, Nagai told Tanjug in an interview. He said he understood Serbia's need to express its protest against Japan's decision to recognize Kosovo's independence, but that he believed that the ambassador should be in Japan, working on the overcoming of this problem.

Asked which reasons made his country recognize the unilateral independence of Serbia's southern province, Nagai said that Japan had assessed that Kosovo was ready to become a state and ready to meet all international obligations resulting from this status. As for Japan's relations with Serbia, it wants to continue with traditionally good relations and it has no intention of ruining these friendly relations in any way, he said and added that he sincerely hoped that these relations would continue. Asked about the possibilities and interest of Japanese businessmen to invest in Serbia, the ambassador said that Japanese investors were waiting for the situation in Serbia to finally stabilize.

SOFIA, Apr 24 (Tanjug) - Serbia remains open for economic cooperation with its neighbors, although some of them, including Bulgaria have recognized the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, Serbian Charge d'Affaires in Bulgaria Dejan Hinic said Thursday addressing the participants of a Bulgarian-Serbian economic forum in Sofia.

After the decision of the Bulgarian government to recognize the illegitimate independence of Kosovo the atmosphere in relations is not the same. "Bulgaria is our close neighbor, but the Serbian public regrets your country made this step, which is not in the interest of bilateral relations,' Hinic said. He, however, declared that Bulgaria and Serbia have plenty of interests in common and his country will not close itself to business with its neighbors and the EU. "Serbia wants economic relations to develop on the basis of the interests of the two countries.

Bulgarian investments in Serbia are welcome, as until now,' Hinic said. Bulgarian President Georgi Prvanov said that infrastructure projects between Bulgaria and Serbia should be implemented speedily, especially Corridor 10. When there is solidarity in our demands for financing the development of Corridor 10 we could be more convincing," he said, Prvanov also spoke of the need of boosting cooperation in the energy sector, noting that Bulgaria is taking part in major energy projects and that part of the routes should pass through Serbia, too, because that would be in common interest.

BELGRADE, April 25 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic on Friday felicitated Easter to Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Pavle, church dignitaries, priests, Eastern Orthodox believers and all citizens who celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar, the Serbian president's press service said in a statement. "I wish that you celebrate the most joyous Christian holiday in peace, with joy and love, unity among people, hope and belief in a better and safer future," the message said.

TOPOLA, April 27 (Tanjug) - The Easter Message of Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Pavle was read in the Church of St George on Mt Oplenac early on Sunday morning at the Easter Liturgy which was attended also by Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica. The message, among other things, tells Serbs all over the world to reach accord and to unite, and never again to let themselves be divided or pitted against each other.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the salvation of the past the present and the future, Patriarch Pavle said in his Easter Message. In these joyful days, one cannot but remember the human injustice and the violence of the power-wielders against Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija, "which is an integral part of the life of every Christian Orthodox Serb, just as every Serb is inseparably linked to that province," the message said. "Kosovo is the matter of our spiritual being, because we were born with it, grew with it, lived with it, and matured with it as personalities and as a nation, we lived and died with the pledge of Kosovo. That is why the question of Kosovo and Metohija is so vital, so psychologically, spiritually and mystically connected to each and every one of us," the Patriarch said in his message.

VISOKI DECANI, April 27 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic said on Saturday evening in the Monastery of Visoki Decani in Kosovo and Metohija province that Serbia, as a state, has the obligation in the years to come to continue being dedicated to its people and the holy places in Kosovo and Metohija.

"I have come to pay homage to the remains of the Holy King Stefan Decanski, but at the same time to meet with the people who live in these lands in isolation and amid great difficulties," Tadic said, speaking just before the beginning of the Easter Liturgy which was attended by Serbs from enclaves in the southern Serbian province, in addition to the Monastery's brotherhood. Serbia must nurture its holy places in Kosovo and Metohija, Tadic said, not only because of the feeling of responsibility toward its own culture, identity and tradition, but also because of the obligation toward the World Cultural Heritage to which it is contributing with its monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija. The Monastery of Visoki Decani was built between 1327 and 1335, under the patronage of the medieval Serbian monarch Stefan Decanski. The Monastery brotherhood is currently made up of 29 monks and novices.

VIENNA, April 25 (Tanjug) - The United Nations will continue to work within its mandate in Kosovo-Metohija, under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said in Vienna on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference on the occasion of opening of a new conference room at UN Headquarters, he said that the UN priority was to control the situation in Kosovo peacefully. Ban voiced his regret over the recent incidents in Kosovo and said that the United Nations had to prevent this from repeating.

PRISTINA, Apr 24 (Tanjug) - Kosovo Premier Hasim Taci on Thursday called Kosovo's citizens to ignore Belgrade's announcements about holding Serbian local elections, evaluating that those are Serbia's illegal pretensions.

Speaking at the government session in Pristina, Taci sent out a message to the population of Kosovo to "overcome those pretensions with measure and cool-headedness." "These are illegal pretensions, while the results of those elections will be illegitimate and will not be recognized by anyone," said Taci.

PRISTINA, April 26 (Tanjug) - Head of the EU Mission to Kosovo-Metohija (Eulex) Yves de Kermabon has ruled out the idea that UNMIK be in charge in mostly Serb-populated parts of the province and that Eulex be in charge elsewhere, the Pristina Albanian-language daily Zeri reported on Saturday.

Zeri said, quoting Western diplomatic sources, that French General de Kermabon had informed the highest political authorities in Brussels that he opposed such a combination, since this would be very problematic and would not work for him and Eulex staff. Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel on Friday commented that Eulex might strengthen the European pillar of UNMIK.