Belgrade, 31. 03. 2008.

MEETING OF THE EU FM DEDICATED TO THE REGION OF THE WESTERN BALKANS

• EU MINISTERS TO DISCUSS WESTERN BALKANS ON SATURDAY
• JEREMIC: SAA WILL BE SIGNED SOON
• JEREMIC AND EU MINISTERS ON SERBIA'S EUROPEAN WAY
• EU PLANS VISA FACILITIES FOR SERBIAN CITIZENS
• REHN: SERBIA'S PATH IS OF KEY IMPORTANCE FOR WESTERN BALKANS
• RUPEL: MAIN ISSUE HOW TO HELP SERBIA
• EU SLOVENIAN PRESIDENCY SAYS SERBIA HAS GOOD PROSPECTS
• TACI ALSO INVITED TO EU MINISTERIAL MEETING
• JEREMIC: PRISTINA DELEGATION ONLY UNDER UN FLAG
• LONCAR: THACI'S PARTICIPATION DISGRACEFUL
• EU FOR SUPPORT TO PRO-EUROPEAN FORCES IN SERBIA
• NETHERLANDS READY TO BE CREATIVE ABOUT SERBIA-EU RELATIONS
• BULGARIA FOR SIGNING AGREEMENT WITH SERBIA BEFORE ELECTIONS
• BAKOYANNIS: SERBIA KEY COUNTRY OF WESTERN BALKANS REGION
• THACI: KOSOVO FOR GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS WITH REGION

• KOSTUNICA: EVERY PROPOSAL ON HIGHWAY WILL BE CONSIDERED
• DJILAS: AGREEMENT ON HIGHWAY WITHIN NEXT 90 DAYS
• MINISTERS ASK KOSTUNICA TO CONVENE GOVT
• HOLDERS AGREE TO DEADLINE EXTENSION
• LEGAL SOLUTION SOUGHT FOR CONCESION CONTRACT
• GOVERNMENT TO HOLD TELEPHONE SESSION ON HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

• JEREMIC: CLEAR PLAN FOR SERBIA'S VISA-FREE REGIME SOON
• NO ALTERNATIVE TO SERBIA'S PATHWAY TO EU
• SUTANOVAC: NATO NOT THREAT, BUT RATHER PARTNER
• SERBIA'S FUTURE LIES IN EUROPE
• SARYUSZ-WOLSKI: SIGNING OF SAA PERHAPS EVEN BEFORE ELECTIONS

• TADIC: SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY NOT ACTIVE IN KOSOVO
• KOSTUNICA: MUP OFFICE IN KOSOVO IS UNMIK FABRICATION
• DJELIC: SERBIA WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
• NORWAY RECOGNIZED KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE
• SERBIA PROTESTS OVER NORWAY'S RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO
• SERBIA PROTESTS OVER SOUTH KOREA'S RECOGNITION OF KOSOVO
• JEREMIC: ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO AS WELL
• UNMIK & KPS HAVE NO PROOF OF SERBIAN POLICE STATIONS
• SWISS FM: CLEAR KOSOVO STATUS NEEDED FOR REGIONAL STABILITY
• ROGOZIN: SHIPMENTS OF US ARMS - DOUSING FIRE WITH FUEL
• ROGOZIN: KOSOVO CRIMINAL CENTRE OF EUROPE'S NARCOTICS NETWORK
• ALEXEYEV: KOSOVO PROBLEM YET TO BE RESOLVED
• CAVACO SILVA: PROCLAMATION OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE NOT NORMAL
• WILLI WIMMER: INDEPENDENT KOSOVO STILLBORN CILD
• SWARUP: INDIA'S STAND IS CONSISTENT
• BUSH: US HOPES UKRAINE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE KOSOVO
• BUSH BELIEVES THAT KOSOVO MAY STAND ON ITS OWN FEET

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - The European Union foreign ministers, who started a two-day informal meeting on Friday, will discuss on Saturday moving closer of the Western Balkans to the EU, while Olli Rehn is planned to deliver an opening address on the issue. A document entitled "Western Balkans - Strengthening of European prospects," drafted by the European Commission in early March will be the basis for a debate. The Western Balkans is stable and it is making a continuous, although uneven, progress towards the EU, Rehn told reporters upon his arrival in Brdo Pri Kranju. He also said that there is still certain instability, but if they get overcome, the region will have a nice future in the EU. He also said that this year might be a decisive one for the moving closer of the Western Balkan countries to the EU. Pointing out Kosovo as the source of a possible instability in the region, Rehn underscored that the EU remains ready to support the economic and political development of Kosovo, which has to develop as a democratic and multiethnic society.

LJUBLJANA, March 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Saturday that he presented to the European Union (EU) foreign ministers, at the meeting in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju, the absolute readiness of Belgrade to continue moving closer to the EU and expressed confidence that the SAA will be signed soon. "The main subject at my talks were the European prospects of Serbia and the entire western Balkans. The EU is ready to do everything in its power to open its doors to Serbia, in spite of the difficult circumstances," Jeremic said in a statement for Tanjug after talks with his European counterparts. "I presented Belgrade's absolute readiness to continue advancing toward the EU. The next step along that route is the signing of the SAA and I believe this will happen in the very near future. Serbia must choose, Serbian citizens must make the decision whether the country's European integration proceesses will continyue," the Serbian minister said. The democratic will of the Serbian citizens is of strategic importance when the issue of continued European integrations is concerned, Jeremic said he had told his counterparts at the meeting. During the meeting, consensus was reached that the continued European integration of the western Balkans is the only way to secure lon-term peace and stability in the Balkans and to reach the level of prosperity as in the EU, he said. During meetings, differences in opinions were expressed on the question of the status of Kosovo and the unilaterally proclaimed independence of the southern Serbian province, Jeremic said, underscoring that "there are also deep differences within the Union itself." "There are countries which have decided to recognize this illegal act, and there are countries that are opposed to that. I reiterated our stand and underscored that it will not change, regardless of the election results. Serbia's policy will remain the same," Jeremic said. In talks with the European ministers, Jeremic stressed that Serbia is ready to cooperate with the United Nations (UN) Mission in Kosovo in the way envisaged under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, but it does not accept the EU mission which has no legal foundation.

After the EU ministers' meeting in Brdo near Kranj on March 29, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated that the meeting has strongly confirmed "Serbia's dedication to the European way," but warned that Serbia is in "a very difficult and challenging situation."Jeremic stated that the situation in Kosovo represents a threat to peace and stability in the region, which is why the international community must jointly find a solution to the question. According to him, Serbia is facing the most crucial elections since Oct. 2000, in which the Serbian people are going to support further European integration of the country.

Addressing the press, the Serbian foreign minister underlined that Belgrade will continue its heavy assault "excluding all compromises" on both separate "fronts" the defense of the country's sovereignty and integrity, as well as persisting in European integrations. He said that Serbia is asking for practical steps for the safety of the Kosovo Serbs. Belgrade authorities will continue fighting diplomatically, without violence, using all diplomatic means against the illegally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, and for the preservation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Jeremic said.

The Serbian minister stated it would be best if the EU reaches an agreement on visa cancellation for Serbian citizens "as soon as tomorrow," and commented the announcement that the European Commission will adopt "an array of measures" for Serbia and Bosnia at the end of April. Jeremic pointed out that Belgrade is ready to sign the Agreement on Stabilization and Association with the EU right away, underlining that the Serbian authorities are trying their best to fully cooperate with the Hague tribunal, in order to arrest the remaining indictees.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - European Commisioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn hinted Friday that the European Union might draft by the end of April an action plan for visa facilities for Serbia's citizens, but refused to say whether visas will be annulled before the early parliamentary elections in Serbia on May 11. Rehn was speaking before the start of the two-day informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, whose main topic Saturday will be the Western Balkans prospects for accession to the EU, Slovenian agency STA said.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - Olli Rehn stated in Slovenia's Brdo Pri Kranju on Friday that the development path that Serbia chooses will be of key importance for the Western Balkan region as a whole. The EU is ready to encourage its moving closer to the EU by granting it the status of a candidate state, but Serbia has to reaffirm its European choice and meet the conditions, Rehn said on the first day of a two-day informal meeting of the Union ministers. The EU should set the directions, while Serbia should choose its direction, said Rehn, who is scheduled to deliver an introductory speech on European prospects of the Western Balkan countries. Rehn refused to reply to a question on whether the EU will abolish visas for Serbia's citizens before the parliamentary elections called for early May in Serbia in order to stimulate the voters to back the pro-European forces. He said that he does not find it problematic that the Serbs from Kosovo will also vote in the election, because that is not contrary to the plan of Ahtisaari. According to the document, the Serb community in Kosovo is allowed to maintain special relations with Serbia and that is why I don't see their participation in the forthcoming election as a problem, concluded Rehn.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, March 29 (Tanjug) - Slovenian Foreign Minister Rupel said in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju on Saturday that the main topic at the European Union (EU) ministerial meeting has been how to strengthen the European prospects of Serbia. Speaking after the end of a two-day informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers, Minister Rupel said they had agreed that a concrete step should now be taken in that direction.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, March 29 (Tanjug) - The EU Slovenian Presidency said that Serbia can step up its advance toward the Union and soon acquire candidate status for EU membership. However, it is necessary that the Serbian political leadership should confirm its determination in favor of a European future, and it should meet all the conditions for the signing of the SAA, it was underscored in the Slovenian Presidency statement released on the occasion of today's meeting of the EU foreign ministers dedicated to the region of the W. Balkans. The Presidency especially appealed to Serbia to refrain from any statements and actions that might weaken the security situation in the region, the STA reported.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel confirmed on Friday that Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Taci had also been invited to a two-day informal meeting of the European Union foreign ministers, which started in Brdo pri Kranju on Friday. The ministers are scheduled to discuss the situation in the Western Balkans and the region's association with the EU on Saturday, Rupel said. Since representatives of the Western Balkan countries are taking part in the meeting, it was only logic to also invite someone from the Kosovo government, said Rupel.

LJUBLJANA, March 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Saturday that the participation of Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci in the meeting of the EU foriegn ministers in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju is acceptable only provided the Pristina delegation is headed by an international representative and that it appears under the flag of the UN. "We insisted that any appearance by Pristina must be regulated strictly in the way envisaged under Res 1244, which implies that the Pristina delegation is led by the international representative and appears under the UN flag. That is the way in which Pristina appeared at numerous meetings in the past," Jeremic said in a statement for Tanjug. The Serbian delegation received assurances from the meeting hosts that the procedure "will indeed be in keeping with Res 1244," Jeremic said.

BELGRADE, March 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian Education Minister Loncar said that the participation of Kosovo Premier Thaci at the EU ministerial meeting is a great shame for Europe. "The arrival of Hashim Thaci at the EU ministerial meeting at Brdo pri Kranju is an excellent opportunity for the European officials to hear first-hand, from Thaci himself, how he had earlier traded in human organs taken from kidnapped Serbs. That is the real topic for the conversations between the European officials and their partner Thaci," Loncar said in a statement for Tanjug. "The trade in human organs taken from kidnapped Serbs, organized by Thaci, is the true face of the first NATO state that they are trying to create in the territory of Serbia," Loncar said. "After the Nazis, this is the first time that real cannibals are appearing in Europe, such as Thaci, whom European officials are addressing as Mister Prime Minister. In a word, this is a great disgrace for Europe," Loncar concluded.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - The EU must do everything it can in order to support the pro-European forces in Serbia ahead of the parliamentary elections set for May 11, the EU foriegn ministers agreed in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju. Maximum support must be given to these forces, Frenc Foreign Minister Bernard Koucner said at the end of the two-day ministerial meeting whic was dedicated to the European future of the Western Balkans region. This motion was backed by Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Aselborn, who also said that the EU wants pro-European forces to win in Serbia on May 11, western news agencies have reported. The host of the meeting, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, said Serbia's future was the main topic at the meeting, and underscored that the ministers agreed Serbia should be discused over the next days as well, so that certain facilities could be provided for it before the early parliamentary elections take place.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - Netherlands Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has promised that his country will be creative in seeking ways to support the reformists in Serbia, but insisted that Belgrade must realize full cooperation with the ICTY, based in The Hague, before it signs an agreement on closer ties with the EU. "I told my colleagues I am prepared to think creativelyabout ways to support the pro-European forces in Serbia but Itold them the conditions (for signing the agreement with the EU)…are not negotiable," he was quoted as saying by the British news agency Reuters. He also said ICTY Cief Prosecutor Brammertz and the EU will decide what is implied under full cooperation.

SOFIA, BRDO PRI KRANJU, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - Bulgaria has launced a proposal within whic Serbia could sign the Stabilization and Asociation Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) before May 11, the date of the Serbian elections, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin said at an EU ministerial meeting in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju on Saturday. The EU will ratify that Agreement or not, depending on whether the new majority formed in the Serbian government following the early parliamentary elections will give credible signs about cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Kalfin said, as carried by the Bulgarian news agency BTA. The Bulgarian foreign minister also underscored the need to step up the proces of European integrations, as well as the need for the signing of a Stabilization and Asociation Agreement with every country of the Western Balkans region at the earliest posible opportunity.

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju on Saturday, during a two-day informal meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers, that the EU has an almost united stand on the European future of Serbia. "We are all aware of the key role of Serbia in the Western Balkans. There is an almost united stand within the EU on the European prospects of Serbia. We must help Serbia and send a strong mesage to the Serbian people that we wish them to become a part of the EU," Bakoyannis said, as carried by Greek media.

Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci on March 29 stated that Kosovo is applying itself to good neighborly relations with all regional countries, including Serbia, in the future. "I am here to confirm Kosovo's readiness for the integration process in the region, as well as for Euroatlantic integrations," Thaci said during an informal EU ministerial meeting in Slovenia, with the topic of the Western Balkan countries' future, Pristina media reported. Thaci also spoke about events in Kosovo after the independence proclamation on Feb. 17.

"Kosovo institutions are very dedicated to the respect of law, fight against corruption, and creation of a climate which will guarantee the right of all communities according to European standards," Thaci said. He added that the "Kosovo government is engaged in the establishment of order and law within the entire Kosovo territory." According to the Pristina media, European representatives wanted Thaci and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic to meet during the meeting, but that did not happen.

In the meantime, Thaci's cabinet announced that he met British FM Miliband, and Swedish FM Bildt before the ministerial meeting. It was stated in the announcement that Miliband and Bildt stated that their countries will continue to help Kosovo.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Friday that he will consider every proposal concerning Serbia choosing the best of two possibilities and getting the Horgos-Pozega highway. Kostnica said that he had not received a formal proposal by the time he left the government today, either from Deputy Premier Bozidar Djelic or from Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic, on the calling of a government session. "The Serbian government is not a Cossack assembly. We will talk when we receive an official proposal," Kostunica said. Kostunica said he was shocked and appalled at the manner of the talks that went on at the government session yesterday, and at the bad, "verminous and destructive decision" adopted by the majority vote of the DS and G17 Plus ministers.

GROCKA, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister without portfolio Dragan Djilas, in charge of the implementation of the National Investment Plan, announced on Friday that intense negotiations are under way at the government in order to find a solution for the construction of the Horgos-Pozega highway, and expressed hope that everything will be agreed within the next 90 days, so that work can begin. Djilas said he spoke today over the telephone with Minister for Capital Investments Velimir Ilic, and expressed hope that a solution will soon be found. "I believe all the sides are interested, but if it is in someone's interest to demonstrate that - the worse it is in Serbia the better it gets - then there will be no highway, and we will wait for a few months after the elections and start everything all over again," Djilas said. There is no reason to waste time, because all the ministers are for the construction of this highway - it is just a matter of how to go about it, Djilas said. "It is best that we iron out all the details in the next 90 days and then start working," Djilas said.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Ministers of the Democratic Party (DS), G17 Plus and the Sandzak Democratic Party (SDP) sent an official proposal to Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica on Friday, asking him to call a government session at which they will propose that the concession-holders for the construction of the Horgos-Pozega highway should be given an additional deadline of 90 days to complete their financial construction. Addressing the prime minister, the proposal pointed out that, unless Kostunica calls a government session by midnight of March 31, "the entire concession contract will become null and void, which would not be in the interests of our citizens." On behalf of the DS ministers, the document was signed by Deputy Premier Bozidar Djelic, and on behalf of the G17 Plus by Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic, and on behalf of the SDP by Minister of Labor and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic. "We, government ministers from the ranks of the Democratic Party and G17 Plus and the SDP, are of the opinion that the construction of the Horgos-Pozega highway is of vital importance for our country, its economy and the citizens," the proposal said. "Unfortunately, it is a fact that the concession-holder Alpina-Por has not fulfilled all the technical and financial conditions envisaged under the concession contract as a condition for beginning the work," the ministers said.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Representatives of the Porr - Alpina consortium of holders of the concession for the construction of the Horgos - Pozega highway, and the Deutsche Bank, met Friday with Serbian Deputy Premier Bozidar Djelic, Tanjug learned from Serbian government. Representatives of the concession holders agreed at a meeting with the proposal for a 90 day extension of the deadline for their financial construction.

BELGRADE, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - Serbian government representative in the negotiations on the concesion for the highway Horgos-Pozega Mihajlo Markovic said on Saturday evening that, in addition to Deutsce Bank whic is the guarantor of the work and the biggest financier, the construction of this highway should also be co-financed by the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank. Deutsce Bank has confirmed it is firmly backing the project and the concesion-holders, Markovic said in a statement for Serbian Radio Television RTS. The current times and the developments on the world market of capital have made considerably more difficult the decisions so far on the financial backing of suc projects, he said. The concesion-holders Alpina-Por have also confirmed for RTS that they wish to build the highway and that they are waiting for the government decision, after whic they will come out with a public statement. It will be known by midnight of Monday, Marc 31, whether the Horgos-Pozega highway will be built through a concesion. On that ocasion, RTS learned that government representatives today again sought for a legal solution that would enable the existing contract to remain in force. A coordinated solution should be presented to the government, whic will take the final stand on this isue, on whether the contract will be annulled or whether it will wait for the new government after the elections.

BELGRADE, Mar 31 (Tanjug) - The Serbian government will hold on Monday a telephone session on concessions for the construction of the Horgos-Pozega highway, Minister for Trade Predrag Bubalo told a press conference. Bubalo said that the DSS and New Serbia ministers will do everything to keep the contract effective and that measures had been taken to prevent an annulment of the contract. The problem is that the Deutsche Bank had informed the concessionaire company Alpina-Por that it will be unable to provide bank guarantees for the entire investment.

BELGRADE, March 30 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Saturday evening that Brussels might, in the next few weeks, announce a clear plan for Serbia's individual road map leading to the realization of an absolutely visa-free regime for travel to countries of the European Union (EU) of its citizens. At the meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Slovenian resort of Brdo pri Kranju on Saturday, which was dedicated to the European prospects of the Western Balkans, Jeremic said a political decision was adopted to the effect that Brussels can be expected officially to announce the list of steps within the so-called road map toward a visa-free regime. "It can be expected that the EU announce a list of steps, together with the dates when these steps should be realized, so that we can get a visa-free regime for the travel of our citizens to the European Union at the end of that so-called road map," Jeremic said in statement for Serbian Radio Television RTS. Regarding the possibilities for Serbia signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, Jeremic said, "it is no secret that the Netherlands government still has objections in that regard," and the SAA will be signed in the near future if the Belgrade government will have the democratic capacity for such activities. At the meeting in Slovenia, the participant also discussed the full implementation of Resolution 1244 and there was consensus that all parts of the Resolution must be fulfilled, in spite of the differences in the interpretation of that document regarding the future status of the southern Serbian province, Jeremic said.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Parliament President Oliver Dulic and European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee President Yatsek Sariush Volski agreed in talks on Friday that there is no alternative to Serbia's pathway toward the European Union (EU), Dulic's Office announced. Dulic expects that Serbia will, in the coming period, sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, and that the visa regime will be fully liberalized. He announced the intensification of activities aimed at the fullst possible stepping up of the process of European integrations. Volski said that Serbia has its place in the EU and that it depends only on Serbia at what pace it will be moving toward its goal, the Office statement said. The upcoming elections will also have a big influence on this, since their outcome can determine whether Serbia will soon become a candidate for EU membership, or an enclave within the EU, Volski was quoted as saying.

BELGRADE, Marc 31 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defence Minister Sutanovac holds that NATO is not a threat to Serbia, but rather its partner, and he does not think that we will be opposed to eac other ever again. In an interview for Blic, Sutanovac said that the Partnership for Peace was a frame whic sufficed for Serbia's military cooperation. He underlined that he had never attended a meeting at whic Kosovo's partition had been discused. "I do not think that at this moment partition has a support in the international community. I would like to hear what the Serbs in the enclaves have to say about this," Sutanvac said. He said he believed that the events in the Belgrade, as well as in Kosovo, after the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo-Metohija independence, had not been acidental and that "things were coordinated and orcestrated from Belgrade, and that for the most part and without the government's knowledge, they were agreed between Samardzic & Kostunica.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian parliament's foreign affairs committee chairman Dragoljub Micunovic said at a meeting on Friday with European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Jacek Saryusz-Wolski that Serbia's future was in European integration. In a statement, the Serbian parliament quoted Micunovic as saying that Serbia's EU admission had been slowed down by the condition of Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY, illegal unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo and its recognition by some EU member-states. Micunovic voiced his expectation that the pro-European option would win at the May 11 early parliamentary elections because "we don't have the right to bring into question people's quality of life and postpone the future." Wolski said that the aim of his visit was to learn about the political situation in Serbia ahead of the parliamentary elections and its EU integration plans. He said that the European Union urged a speedy admission of the countries that had emerged from the former Yugoslavia and was ready to sign the SSA with Serbia as soon as the existing obstacles were overcome.

BELGRADE, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - European Parliament (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee Cairman Jacek Saryusz-Wolski has said that the signing of the Stabilization and Asociation Agreement (SAA) is posible even before the parliamentary elections in Serbia, and pointed out that a meeting of European and Serbian officials could be set up soon at the European Parliament. Speaking in an interview for Tanjug, the EP official said they were considering what could be done for Serbia to get closer to the EU, so that the SAA could not only be ratified, but signed as well. Perhaps already next week, Serbian Parliament President Oliver Dulic and European Integrations Committee Cairman Milos Jevtic could come to the EP to meet with European MPs and the president of the Netherlands parliament. The main topic could be posibilities for the soonest posible signing of the SAA, Saryusz-Wolski said. This could perhaps take place even before the parliamentary elections in Serbia, he said in the interview that he gave on the ocasion of his visit to the national news agency. During his visit to Belgrade yesterday, Saryusz-Wolski met with Serbian Deputy Premier Djelic, Foriegn Minister Jeremic, Serbian Parliament officials Dulic and Jevtic. All the officials he spoke with expresed dedication to Serbia's continued European integration proceses, the EP official said.

BELGRADE, March 29 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic on Saturday rejected allegations that forces of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) are active in Kosovo and Metohija province. Tadic told reporters that persons who worked in the MUP before the year 1999 still live in Kosovo and Metohija, and that it is perfectly natural that they are still there, since no-one has the right to expell them from their homes. "Unfortunately, any functioning of the Serbian police forces in Kosovo-Metohija, and I say unfortunately because it would be normal for us to maintain representatives of state institutions and to have full sovereignty there, would be a violation of (United Nations Security Council) Resolution 1244, and that would be very dangerous from the aspect of the defense of our interests," Tadic said. Pristina Albanian-language media have reported, quoting unnamed sources with the local United Nations administration UNMIK, that there are ten police stations of the Serbian MUP in Kosovo and Metohija, but these allegations about the presence of Serbia's MUP in the province were denied yesterday also by representatives of UNMIK and the KPS.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica on Friday described as "an ordinary fabrication" UNMIK's claims about the existence of an office of the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) in Kosovo and Metohija. If that office existed, as UNMIK has announced, UNMIK would have presented evidence about its whereabouts and personnel, Kostunica said in response to a question at the DSS press conference. "This is an ordinary unsubstantiated fabrication and an attempt to continue the wrong policy of the recognition of the independence of Kosovo," Kostunica set out. He stated that a suit before the international court is "the most efficient means against states that recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo." Kostunica explained that Serbia has received the support of numerous legal experts worldwide who are prepared to back this process, because, as he said, this is not the defence of Serbia, but the authority of the United Nations. Commenting a statement by US President George Bush that the independence of Kosovo will bring stability to the Balkan region, Kostunica said that this is not true and that the independence of Serbia's southern province can only destabilize the region.

BELGRADE, March 28 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Premier Bozidar Djelic said on Friday in talks with European Parliament (EP) Foreign Affairs Committee President Yatsek Sariush Volski that Serbia would never recognize the independence of Kosovo and Metohija. Djelic said that "the unilateral recognition of the independence of the province is a precedent that does not contribute to the stability of the region," a statement said. Sariush Volski reiterated that the EP is not empowered to take a position on the independence of Kosovo, but that this is a matter for individual countries to decide. Djelic expressed belief that, after the formation of a democratic and pro-european government, Serbia would "gain candidate status for the EU" by the end of 2008 and that "the visas for our citizens would be lifted."

OSLO, March 28 (Tanjug) - Norway on Friday officially recognized the independence of Kosovo, following the example of its neighbors. The decision was made by the State Council, presided by King Harald V. Norway is the 35th country to recognize Kosovo. Earlier today it was preceeded by South Korea.

BELGRADE, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Foreign Ministry on Friday sent a note to the government of the Kingdom of Norway protesting against its recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and Metohija. In keeping with the Foreign Ministry's Action Plan, adopted by the Serbian government, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic had ordered an urgent withdrawal of Serbian Ambassador to Norway Vladislav Mladenovic.

BELGRADE, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Foreign Ministry on Friday sent a note to the government of the Republic of Korea protesting against its recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and Metohija, the Ministry said in a statement. In keeping with the Foreign Ministry's Action Plan, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic had ordered an urgent withdrawal of Serbia's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Zoran Veljic.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on March 29 stated that May 11 will also be the day when elections for local authorities in Kosovo are to be held. Jeremic told the press in Belgrade that he cannot see why elections should not be held on the entire Serbian territory. "We will cooperate with UNMIK and the international institutions envisaged by Resolution 1244. It is of the highest importance to fully respect the democratic process, and to hold the elections on the entire territory of our country," B92 reported Jeremic's statement. According to him, Serbia is complete in its recognized borders, and there is no reason why all elections should not be held on the entire Serbian territory.

In the evening of March 29, UNMIK Spokesman Georgi Kakuk stated that UNMIK has not made a decision yet on holding local and general elections on Kosovo territory on May 11. The decision on holding the elections will be made later, after consultations in the U.N.'s New York headquarters, where a stand on the question should be determined, Kakuk told BETA. Belgrade media reported that the Serbian Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Slobodan Samardzic stated that elections for local authorities in Kosovo should be held on May 11, and that Kosovo Serbs and those displaced in central Serbia and Montenegro will participate in them.Samardzic said that both parliamentary and local elections in Serbia will also be organized in Kosovo and Metohija, according to the decision made by Serbian Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic, based on the stand that Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia.

PRISTINA/CAGLAVICA, March 28 (Tanjug) - UNMIK Police Deputy Commissioner Jim Lias said Friday that the international police force has no proof about the existence of Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) police stations in Kosovo. Here (in Kosovo) there are only Kosovo Police Service (KPS) stations. Although the information about the police stations has been revealed, we have absolutely no proof. If you have proof, sent it to the police and they will conduct an investigation, Lias said in the Media Center in Caglavica. Asked by reporters about the existence of Serbian police stations in Kosovo, reported over the past few days by the Albanian-language Pristina papers, KPS representative Resat Malici also rejected these claims. We have no knowledge of facilities that are used by parallel structures. So far, we have no such information and are aware only of facilities used by the UNMIK police and KPS, Malici stated. The representatives of the the UN and the Kosovo police services said that they believe that the Serb KPS members would return to work, after refusing to submit to its command following the unilateral declaration of the independence of Kosovo. That problem has been solved and they are welcome to return to KPS whenever they wish. At present, they are suspended with pay, but I expect that they will return soon and work together with their ethnic Albanian collegues, Malici underscored. Lias said that all KPS personnel should operate within the Kosovo police chain of command.

PRISTINA, Mar 28 (Tanjug) - Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy Rey said in Pristina that a clearly defined Kosovo status is necessary for regional stability and that only independent Kosovo can develop economically, Pristina electronic media reported. Calmy Rey conferred with Kosovo President and Premier Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci and conveyed to them Switzerland's readiness to help Kosovo through international presence and in bilateral relations. She also commended Kosovo's determination to realize all commitments set out in Ahtisaari's plan. Calmy Rey will open the Swiss embassy in Pristina Friday evening.

MOSCOW, March 29 (Tanjug) - The United States (US) decision to deliver arms to Kosovo appears as an attempt to douse a fire with fuel, Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO Dmitri Rogozin said on Friday evening, after an informal meeting of the NATO-Russia Council held at ambassadorial level in Brussels. Rogozin said he was not aware that it was possible to douse a fire with kerosene. There is much weaponry in Kosovo, and the question raised at this point is how to seize these arms, not how to deliver more, Rogozin said. Should the decision of the US administration be realized, Rogozin said, there will be dozens of wounded and hundreds of killed in possible future unrests. This decision of the administration of George Bush is in violation of Res 1244, which should lead to the disarming of ethnic Albanian armed groups and which instructs the local peacekeeping force KFOR to limit the inflow of arms to Kosovo. It is particularly surprising that the decision was made following the recent bloody events in Kosovska Mitrovica, the Russian ambassador said.

MOSCOW, Marc 31 (Tanjug) - The organised criminal group of Kosovo Albanians represents the central spot of the entire European criminal network for narcotics distribution, Rusian Permenent Representative to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday. It is supplied by deliveries from Kosovo, whic has long been the central place for the transport and repacking of narcotics, he said in an interview for the Moskovsky Komsomolec. This is why, acording to him, it is justified to pose a question as to whether it was posible to believe that the Kosovo Albanian narco-mafia did not finance the projects relating to independent Kosovo. He also said that in informal talks with European parliamentarians, he had learned that if Kosovo became independent, the Europeans could feel free to send the Kosovo Albanians that illegally resided in their countries back to their homes.

BELGRADE, March 29 (Tanjug) - The problem of Kosovo has yet to be resolved, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Alexeyev has said, underscoring that there is not justification to the plans to resolve the crisis quickly, even if in an unjust manner. "The struggle for a just resolving of the Kosovo crisis must proceed constantly, peacefully, and with confidence. It is in the interest of most people and Europeans that a solution should be found in keeping with international law and the principles on which the system of European security rests," Alexeyev underscored in a broadcast on Channel 1 of Serbian Radio Television RTS on Friday evening. "What happened in Kosovo, and what is yet to happen, has shown how wrong it is to substitute the principles of international law with the principles of political appropriateness," Alexeyev said and reiterated that Russia does not consider Kosovo to be a state, but that the state is Serbia, which exists within its legally recognized borders. "In the course of the resolving of the Kosovo crisis, we often heard the argument that international law had to be adandoned because it is outdated and that certain of its parts do not correspond to reality and the circumstances that have occurred in Kosovo. No-one is even considering the question whether the norms of international law are valid not only in the 20th, but also in the 21st century, but they are resorting to the recognition of states instead," Alexeyev said. At this time, Kosovo cannot be seen as an independent state, he said, contrary to many other unrecognized states in which the authorities are actually in control of the situation and where the economy and the social system are actually functioning. When the stand on Kosovo is concrened, it is incorrect to say that there is a division with Russia and Serbia being on one side, and big states on the other, that is a simplification of the issue, Alexeyev said. "China, India, Brazil, Argentina and many others are big states, while the independence of Kosovo is recognized by the USA and members of the EU," Alexeyev said.

LISBON, Marc 30 (Tanjug) - Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva said on Saturday that the unilateral proclamation of the independence of Kosovo province is not normal, as it would be for any other territory, since suc moves are not envisaged under international law. Even if Kosovo were a specific case, the unilateral proclamation of independence is far from normal, Silva said for the Portuguese radio station Antena 1.

BELGRADE, Marc 31 (Tanjug) - Nothing has been gained by the fact that the United States and certain European countries have recognised Kosovo except that we have got a new northern Cyprus, and in the case of Kosovo, many things were done on shifting political sands and from the legal point of view, independent Kosovo is a stillborn cild, Willi Wimmer, a Cristian Democrat in the German Bundestag, has said.We knew in advance that a relatively small number of countries would recognise Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence, and it was obvious that for the most part, the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council would be against Kosovo independence, Wimmer said in an interview for the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, published on the Internet.The daily reminds that late in May 2000, Wimmer, then vice president of the OSCE Parliamentary Asembly, sent a letter to German cancellor Gerhard Screder whic seems to have been prophetic. The American side, Wimmer said, is acting consciously and is ready to undermine and destroy, all because of its own goals, the international legal order whic was established in the last century as the result of World War II, Wimmer wrote eight years ago. When international laws stands in the way, it has to be removed, he said on the ocasion. Asked if Serbia could become a member of the EU and NATO, Wimmer answered by pointing out that it was the EU that had to provide prerequisites for something like that.However, this is where we have the biggest doubts, he said, explaining that the EULEX Mision for Kosovo had proved that as far as its actions were concerned, the EU no longer rested on clear legal grounds.

BELGRADE, Marc 31 (Tanjug) - India's stand on Kosovo has been and still is consistent, and that is that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country have to be fully respected by all other countries, Indian Ambasador to Serbia Ajay Swarup has said.We believed that the Kosovo isue could be resolved in a peaceful manner, by way of dialogue and consultation and our stand has remained uncanged ever since 1999, when India upheld UN Resolution 1244, whic ended the war, Swarup said for the Vecernje Novosti. We have always believed in peaceful solutions, because there is no isue that cannot be resolved by way of consultations and dialogue, Swarup said. He added that a high level of India's support to Serbia can be seen from the comments and articles whic appeared in Indian pres following the proclamation of Kosovo's independence. Swarup also pointed out that the Kosovo case can set a very dangerous precedent for similar cases around the world.

MOSCOW, March 31 (Tanjug) - The United States hopes that Ukraine will acknowledge Kosovo's independence, US President George Bush has said in an interview for the Ukrainian Glavred Magazine, published on Monday. We truly hope that Ukraine will recognise Kosovo's independence, which we have already done, Bush said, adding that Ukraine should decide itself on the decisions it needed to make, the Russian electronic media reported. The US president also said that the independence in question was supervised independence, and added that Washington had strongly supported the idea of Kosovo independence from the very beginning. We also backed such a plan of the UN that would help achieve that kind of controlled independence and which at the same time would guarantee the minority rights in Kosovo, Bush said ahead of his departure for Kiev, where he is supposed to arrive late today. Ukraine's officials said, following the unilaterally proclaimed Kosovo independence, that Kiev was having consultations with its strategic partners - the US, the EU and Russia - on the position it would assume regarding Kosovo independence.

BERLIN, Mar 31 (Tanjug) - U.S. President Bush said in an interview published by the Berlin-based Der Welt that he is confident that "independent Kosovo will be able to stand on its own feet one day" and become a "real state," but he underscored that it will need the world support for that. "To me, it is very important to support every nation to overcome a difficult situation and become a democracy. That is why I am cautious when speaking about time," said Bush in his response to a question on whether he really believes that Kosovo will be a real state "capable of standing on its own feet" in 10 or 20 years time. That, however, will not be quite easy, Bush said, comparing Kosovo with Iraq and Afghanistan. It is hard in Iraq, and it is hard in Afghanistan, and it will also be a difficult process in Kosovo, said President Bush.