Belgrade, 30. 01. 2008.

• RUPEL: TALKS WITH SERBIA REGARDLESS OF ELECTION
• JEREMIC: EU'S OFFER HISTORIC, SERBIA DECIDES ON FEB 3
• DJELIC: EU DEAL PROPOSAL EQUALS MEMBERSHIP OFFER
• LJAJIC FAILS TO COMPREHEND NETHERLANDS OPPOSITION
• BASESCU CONFERRED WITH TADIC
• KOSTUNICA SAYS SERBIAN GOVERNMENT FOR SIGNING OF SAA
• FRATTINI TO VISIT BELGRADE ON JAN. 30
• US HOPES SERBIA WILL KEEP TREADING EURO-ATLANTIC PATH

• NEW AMBASSADORS ADDRESS FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
• EDUCATION MINISTER MEETS WITH CHINESE AMBASSADOR
• EESC DELEGATION MEETS WITH NGOS
• TRADE EXCEEDS 1990 LEVELS FOR THE FIRST TIME
• WHO DELEGATIONS VISITS VMA
• SUTANOVAC ON REALISATION OF CONTRACT WITH IRAQ
• SERBIA, GREECE SIGN PLAN ON BILATERAL MILITARY COOPERATION

• RUPEL: EU HAS SOUND LEGAL BASIS FOR SENDING MISSION
• RUSSIAN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER PREPARATIONS FOR EU MISSION
• BOTSAN-KHARCHENKO: MOSCOW TO CONTINUE PERSUADING EU PARTNERS AND USA
• KOSOVSKA MITROVICA GETS HIGHRISE FOR DISPLACED
• THACI, RUECKER, DE MARNHAC DISCUSS SECURITY IN KOSOVO
• POLICE MINISTER: KOSOVO IS A PLACE OF INTER-ETHNIC TOLERANCE
• DODIK: RS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE

BRUSSELS, Jan. 29 (Beta) - With its invitation to sign a special agreement, the European Union has opened the door to Serbia and hopes it will accept, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who chairs the EU Council of Ministers, said on Jan. 29, in the European Parliament.

Rupel stressed that the talks the EU was having with Serbia and about Serbia would continue regardless of the election campaign in the country.

We are not influencing the election campaign in Serbia. We stand for our position and we are on the side of those who wish Serbia a future in the EU, Rupel said in discussion with members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament in Brussels.

The Slovenian minister stressed the EU did not speculate on who would win the presidential election in Serbia, though "all of us personally know whom they would prefer to see" as the winner. That has nothing to do with our actions, Rupel said, adding that a stable and successful Serbia, fully integrated in the European family, was important for stability in the region.

He reiterated that the EU encouraged Serbia to meet the necessary conditions so the stabilization and association agreement could be signed as soon as possible and the country's entry into the 27nation bloc accelerated.

Rupel further said the EU was aware that its biggest undertaking would be Kosovo, stating that the province was a European issue, a test to prove what the EU wants exactly and how effective its foreign policy was.

But we do not want to send the wrong message when resolving the Kosovo issue and overshadow the positive messages regarding a clear European perspective for the entire area, Rupel said.

BELGRADE, Jan 30 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on Tuesday evaluated as historic Brussels' offer to Serbia to sign a provisional agreement on free trade and visa regime liberation with the EU, because all Union member states had reached a consensus.

It is a direct offer and Serbia has to decide whether it wants to become an EU member because no one may become this without their will, Jeremic said in a statement with state television RTS.

He underscored that Serbia will have an opportunity to vote on that as soon as February 3, that is in the second round of the presidential election, and that if that happens, Serbia will put forward its candidacy for a full membership in the EU. According to Jeremic, if Serbia opts for the EU's direct offer, the document, i.e. the political agreement that opens this path will be signed as soon as February 7.

BELGRADE, Jan. 29 (Beta) - Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic has said that the EU's proposal of an interim political deal amounts to a membership offer.

"This is the first time that all of the EU countries are behind an initiative. All 27 have said that Serbia will become a member and have proposed signing an agreement on Feb. 7 that will serve as a basis for continued work in that direction," Djelic told reporters on Jan. 29.

On Jan. 28, the EU offered Serbia a political deal on cooperation in trade, business, and education, and travel liberalization.

Djelic went on to say that "I am convinced that the citizens of Serbia will in the Feb. 3 presidential runoff support the signing of this provisional agreement on Feb. 7."

Rasim Ljajic, head of the National Council on Cooperation with the ICTY, said on Jan. 29 that the proposal will not be signed if an antiEuropean presidential candidate wins the election, referring to the Radical party's Tomislav Nikolic.

"When you read between the lines, the agreement means that the EU is going to wait to see what happens on Feb. 3 and if the outcome is the victory of the candidate who is opposed to EU entry, then nothing will come of the agreement," he added.

Political analysts in Belgrade agree that the proposal is somewhat supportive of incumbent president and Democratic Party candidate Boris Tadic, although they differ on how strongly Brussels has endorsed Tadic.

BELGRADE, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - The president of the National Council for Cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, Rasim Ljajic, said Tuesday that he fails to comprehend the opposition of The Netherlands to Serbia's signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.

Ljajic said that "they (the Dutch) could have prevented the crime in Srebrenica, because they were there, and that was also their obligation." "Now they are correcting one mistake and injustice with another - injustice, this time towards Serbia," Ljajic told Radio 202, expressing concern that "this conditioning would cause a political counter-effect." He said it was justified to conclude that Serbia has not completed cooperation with The Hague, adding that we are aware that our obligation is to deliver four more Hague indictees, but that for the Netherlands full cooperation means - Ratko Mladic in The Hague.

"Cooperation with the tribunal cannot mean that only Mladic is sent to The Hague," Ljajic set out, explaining that the biggest problem is that the fugatives are well hidden. "Another problem is the fact that we are under constant pressure to conduct a battle with time," he added, noting that Serbia is constantly pressured by deadlines and that another problem was a lack of coordination of the security services, but that now "this has been corrected and that cooperation is satisfactory."

BELGRADE, Jan. 29 (Beta) - The people of Serbia will decide if they are for Europe or some other option at the Feb. 3 presidential elections runoff, Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Jan. 29, while on a visit to Belgrade.

From the bottom of my heart I wish much success to the people who will vote on Feb. 3. The outcome will not be the victory of a politician, but the success of an entire people, Basescu said after meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Boris Tadic.

Basescu said Serbia's solution to national issues lay in integration into the European Union, not outside it. The president of Romania also voiced regret that Jan. 28 had not brought a decision to sign the stabilization and association agreement between Serbia and the EU, but stated he was convinced such a decision would be made after the second round of the presidential vote.

Serbia will not abandon its fight for territorial integrity, but will "defend legitimate interests, territorial sovereignty and integrity, in a peaceful and diplomatic manner," Tadic said after the meeting. "Serbia will never abandon a European future which is of essential importance for every individual," Tadic went on to say.

Basescu said Romania supported Belgrade's position on the future status of Kosovo.

BELGRADE, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Tuesday, at a meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, that the Serbian government is advocating the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU), that the process of European integrations should continue, and stressed that Serbia's integration with the EU must proceed under the same conditions that are valid for all European states.

Kostunica especially pointed out that a decision on the sending of an EU mission to Serbia's southern Kosovo and Metohija province would mean that the EU has willfully annulled the SAA, because it would present the most severe violation of the United Nations (UN) Charter, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Serbian Constitution, and the SAA itself, the government statement said.

The Serbian prime minister underscored that the Serbian parliament established with a resolution that the sending of an EU mission to Kosovo and Metohija with the objective of the implementation of the rejected plan of envoy Martti Ahtisaari would present an action jeopardizing the sovereignty and territorial integrity and constitutional order of Serbia. The Romanian president stressed that Romania strongly advocates respect of international law.

Basescu underscored that Romania will not recognize a possible proclamation of the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, and pointed out that the solution for Kosovo and Metohija must be found in the UN Security Council. Kostunica and Basescu jointly agreed that the relations between Serbia and Romania are extremely good, the statement said.

BELGRADE, Jan. 29 (Beta) - Vice President of the European Commission for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini has said he believes Serbian citizens will be able to travel freely to the countries of the EU in 2009.

Frattini is scheduled to fly to Belgrade on Jan. 30 for a meeting with President Boris Tadic. Afterwards, he and Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic will attend the first round of talks between Serbian and EU officials on travel liberalization.

Prior to leaving for Serbia, Frattini told the staterun TV network that the talks will focus on border and overall public security.

He added that the talks will also lay down specific conditions that Serbia has to meet in order to secure visafree travel for its citizens to the EU.

In addition, Frattini said that the speed of the process mostly hinges on Belgrade, although aid from Brussels could help the process along.

WASHINGTON, Jan 30 (Tanjug) - The United States backs Serbia's desire for broader representation in Euro-Atlantic institutions, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey has said while commenting on the political agreement on cooperation between the European Union and Serbia.

"Obviously, it's up to the EU to determine who will be members and under what circumstances, but we would hope that Serbia would continue to look outward and look towards the - its broader relationship with Europe, the United States, and the rest of the international community," Casey told a press briefing in Washington, the State Department website announced.

This is also one of the reasons why we continue to support the resolution of the issues which have remained unresolved after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia, including the resolution of final Kosovo status and trial of all remaining war leaders for crimes they committed during the war in Bosnia and elsewhere, the State Department spokesman said.

BELGRADE, Jan. 29 (Beta) - Newlyappointed Serbian Ambassador to the Vatican Vladeta Jankovic, before leaving for his new post on Jan. 29, said that he planned to do everything to get a positive or at least neutral stand from the Vatican regarding the issue of Kosovo's status.

Speaking before the Serbian Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Jankovic said that so far the Vatican "has not spoken in favor of the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, but in favor of a compromise solution that would satisfy the interests of all sides."

"At the moment, it is primarily important for the Vatican not to recognize Kosovo's independence. Secondly, to use as much as it can and if it wants to its immense influence to have as few countries recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence and as late as possible," Jankovic said.

He went on to say that at the moment there were no open issues in the relations between Serbia and the Vatican, which could "largely be attributed to the embassy's constructive and efficient work in the past period."

The newly appointed Serbian ambassador to Belgium, Radomir Diklic, stressed that relations between Serbia and Belgium were "not good" right now, as they were strained by key political issues the future status of Kosovo and Serbia's accession to the EU.

Diklic said he did not doubt that Belgium "maybe not in the first round, but certainly in the second will recognize Kosovo's independence, which will additionally complicate its relations with Serbia."

He recalled that, in regards to Serbia's further association with the EU, Belgium supported the Netherlands' position that without the extradition of indicted general Ratko Mladic to the Hague tribunal Serbia could not sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

BELGRADE, Jan. 29 (Beta) - Serbian Education Minister Zoran Loncar in Belgrade on Jan. 29 talked with Chinese Ambassador to Belgrade Li Guobang about the continuation and expansion of political and educational cooperation between the two countries, the Education Ministry said.

Minister Loncar and Ambassador Li both voiced satisfaction with the level of cooperation achieved between Serbia and China in all fields of education, and expressed readiness to further expand and intensify that cooperation.

The two collocutors also agreed that the status of Kosovo could be resolved only with the implementation of international law, the U.N. Charter and the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244.

Ambassador Li particularly stressed that the status solution must be reached through mutual compromise, and backed the Serbian government's principled stand that without the U.N. Security Council's approval there were no legal grounds for the deployment of an EU mission to Kosovo, the ministry added.

BELGRADE, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - A delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is on a two-day official visit to Belgrade, with the aim of contributing to the understanding of the situation in the non-governmental sector in Serbia and the development of the dialogue between the NGO sector of Serbia and the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) Belgrade Headquarters announced on Tuesday.

During the visit to Belgrade on Jan 28 and 29, the EESC delegation members met with Serbian Minister for Labor and Social Issues Rasim Ljajic, Serbian Government Office for European Integrations Director Tanja Miscevic, members of the Serbian Economic Social Council, and several NGOs. The statement pointed out that the EC has asked the EESC to provide a draft opinion on relations between the EU and Serbia and the relevant role of the NGO sector.

Serbian NGOs and social partners will have the key role in cementing democracy and promoting a better living standard, reporter Seppo Kallio said. The EESC members represent different interests - trade unions, employers, NGOs - but they are all united in the understanding that European integration is the best way to secure prosperity and social cohesion, delegation chairman Cveto Stantic said.

BELGRADE, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Trade and Services Minister Predrag Bubalo and new German Ambassador to Serbia Wolfram Josef Maas concluded Tuesday that the 2007 trade between Serbia and Germany exceeded the 1990 levels for the very first time.

The Trade Ministry said on its internet site that, apart from a 45% hike of Serbian exports in the past year, the trade deficit with Germany exceeded one billion dollars.

The German ambassador expressed optimism with regards Serbia's economic development in the coming period and announced he would play an active told in boosting economic cooperation and investment activities of German companies.

BELGRADE, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - A delegation of the World Health Organization (WHO) visited the Military Medical Academy (VMA) in Belgrade on Tuesday, the VMA announced.

During the visit, the forms and dynamics of the further promotion of cooperation were agreed on, and the WHO delegation members were received by VMA Chief Miodrag Jevtic, who acquainted them with the organization of work in that institution, the statement said.

The WHO experts also visited the National Center for Toxic substances Control and were acquainted with its capacities and the possibilities for preventing and eliminating the consequences of chronic explosions of chemical substances, professional poisoning, and the promotion of environmental protection and human health, the statement said.

BELGRADE, Jan 30 (Tanjug) - Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said on Wednesday that the realisation of the contract signed between Iraq and our company Jugoimport SDPR, which represents our domestic specific-purpose industry, had begun.

"The money, practically, was received on our account only yesterday, and now it is under the control of Juogoimport SDPR and advance payment will be distributed among the companies," Sutanovac said in an interview with TV B92. Jugoimport SDPR signed in mid-December 2007 the 230-million-dollar contract with the Iraqi Defence Ministry on the export of products of the Serbian defence industry to that country.

BELGRADE, Jan 30 (Tanjug) - Representatives of the Defence Ministries of Serbia and Greece signed in Belgrade on Tuesday a plan on bilateral military cooperation for 2008, which, among other things, envisages a joint training of members of the special forces of the two armies.

The plan also envisages cooperation in the field of liaison and informatics, as well as training of the military personnel, the Serbian Defence Ministry announced on its website.

The delegation of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, which was headed by International Relations Director Athanasios Giokas, was received by Serbian Assistant Minister of Defence Dusan Spasojevic and Head of the International Military Cooperation Department Milorad Peric.

BRUSSELS, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - The president of the EU Council of Ministers and Slovenian Foreign Minister - Dimitrij Rupel told the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday that the EU has a sound legal basis for sending a police and judicial mission to Kosovo and Metohija.

Rupel underscored that the EU position is that agreement between Belgrade and Pristina about the future status of Kosmet is not possible, as is a solution to this issue within the UN. Rupel reiterated that for EU, Kosovo is a european issue and that in question is a unique case that cannot set a precedent for any other situation worldwide.

Today, Rupel was facing a Q and A session in the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Asked by a MEP to draw a parallel between the case of Cyprus and Kosovo, Rupel said that he fails to see any tie between them. Nicosia fears that a creative interpretation of UN Security Council resolutions could negatively affect the Cyprus issue.

MOSCOW, Jan. 29 (Beta) - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Jan. 29 voiced concern over "behindthescenes" preparations by Western countries to bypass the U.N. Security Council and send an EU mission to Kosovo and urged those countries to refrain from "destructive acts."

Information has lately leaked to the public on behindthescenes activities of Western states, including direct pressure on the secretary general of the U.N. and the EU presidency to send an EU mission to Kosovo, bypassing the U.N. Security Council and building up the military component of the peacekeeping operation in the province, a press release from the Russian ministry read.

The announcement further said so-called doubters in the EU ranks were being persuaded into recognition for Kosovo if it proclaims independence unilaterally, while the KFOR command was drafting plans to pacify the Serb population, which is against independence of the province.

We are seriously concerned over such activities, which require an adequate response, the ministry said.

It reminded that the mandates of international forces in Kosovo had been established in Resolution 1244 of the U.N. Security Council, that the civil mission had been created based on a proposal by the U.N. secretary general approved by the Security Council.

Therefore, any change to the character, composition or operative plan of the activities of the international civil mission would require new decisions by the Security Council, which is only possible with consent from both Belgrade and Pristina, the press release said.

MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Tanjug) - Negotiations are the only solution for resolving the question of the future status of Kosovo and Metohija province for Russia, and Moscow will continue until the very end to persuade its partners in the European Union (EU) and the United States of America not to recognize a unilateral proclamation of the independence of this southern Serbian province, Russian representative on the Contact Group Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko said in a statement for Tanjug on Tuesday.

Even though it is aware that there are slim prospects of success, Russia will continue until the very end to try and persuade its partners that this would be destructive for the entire system of international relations, Botsan-Kharchenko said, but declined to speak about Russia's possible actions in the event of a self-proclamation of the independence of Kosovo.

Nevertheless, he reiterated that Moscow has prepared a series of measures. Russia will see what to do after, if there is a proclamation of independence. As any state that has an interest and which cares about what is happening in Serbia, and Russia is indeed such a country, it has prepared measures on how it will react and Russia knows what it will do in the event of self-proclamation, Botsan-Kharchenko said.

Declining to specify these measures, he said they were a series of political-diplomatic measures that are fully in keeping with the Russian stand on Kosovo and present a continuation of the Russian line. Every ministry is dealing with this possibility, as an eventuality, but there is still no proclamation, so that these measures are not being announced, Botsan-Kharchenko said. The diplomat is deputy director of the newly-formed 4th Balkans Department with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Jan 29 (Tanjug) - Belgrade city representatives handed over the keys of 24 apartments in Kosovska Mitrovica to house families from Kosovo and Metohija.

Apartments keys were given by Belgrade assistant mayor Radmila Hrustanovic, chief city architect Djordje Bobic and town council member Andreja Mladenovic. President of the consultative body for the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica reminded that there are some 5,000 internally displaced in need of aid in the northern part of the town.

PRISTINA, Jan. 29 (Beta) - Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci, UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and KFOR commander Xavier de Marnhac said on Jan. 29 they were taking all necessary measures so that the forthcoming period, which is expected to bring decisions on the status of Kosovo, may be peaceful and safe.

Thaci, Ruecker and De Marnhac discussed the security situation in Kosovo at a joint meeting in Pristina.

Thaci said there was a preemptive plan to ensure safety in Kosovo and added that the government of the province would coordinate all actions with international factors.

We are fully involved in the aim of respecting and guaranteeing the territorial integrity of Kosovo, which is inviolable. We will continue to work together with international factors in Kosovo so that all activities can be coordinated and we can go through the final stage of the status peacefully, Thaci said, adding he was sure of shared success.

Ruecker expressed the conviction that the next weeks and months, during which important decisions were expected, would be peaceful and stable.

Together we will ensure that the coming weeks and months are a period of peace and stability. We have complete trust that the people of Kosovo will act responsibly in a period expected to bring important decisions, Ruecker said.

De Marnhac stated that KFOR considered Kosovo an indivisible territory and that the mission of the NATO forces was to preserve peace throughout the province.

PRISTINA, Jan 29 (Tanjug)- Kosovo Police Minister Zenun Pajaziti said Tuesday in Caglavica that his ministry gives priority to safety of all citizens regardless of ethnicity, resolving war crimes and integration in Europe.

Kosovo is and will remain a place of inter-ethnic tolerance, free from violence, corruption and war criminals, he told a press conference. He added that the goal of his visit to Caglavica is to gain direct knowledge of local security problems and invited the Serb community to cooperate with Kosovo institutions.

BELGRADE, Jan 30 (Tanjug) - Republika Srpska (RS) will not recognize a unilateral proclamation of Kosovo-Metohija independence, RS prime Minister Milorad Dodik has said. In a broadcast by the Serbian Radio television (RTS), he said on Tuesday evening that RS had mechanisms to put some kind of veto in the bodies of Bosnia-Herzegovina and thus prevent BiH from recognizing the independence of Kosovo and Metohija.

Asked what the reaction of the Independent Democratic Serb Party would be if Croatia acknowledged the province's independence, leader of that party Milorad Pupovac expressed belief that Croatia would have consideration for Serbia's interests.

Pupovac, whose party backs the current Croatian government, said in the RTS broadcast that Croatia and Serbia were neighboring countries which, in spite of the fact that they had established good relations, had a lot of issues which were still open.