SERBIA

JEREMIC: I WOULD CHOOSE KOSOVO

BELGRADE, March 9 (B92, Tanjug) - Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Cedomir Jovanovic squared off last night in an RTS talk show. The two confronted their stands on Monday evening on national television concerning the link between Serbia's EU integration and the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence, and the policy that Serbia should implement regarding the issue.
Jeremic was categorical is saying that "if he were to choose between Serbia's EU membership and continuation of fight for Kosovo, he would choose Kosovo", whereas Jovanovic avoided to answer the question although he previously severely criticized Jeremic's stand in view of the issue. He did however say that "no one had ever put that condition before Serbia", and that the country "must change" so that the issue is never raised in the future. "I would never agree to the secession of a part of our territory," Jeremic said, adding that the official policy of the EU is that such a precondition cannot be set to Serbia given that the unilateral independence has not been recognized by five EU members.
Jovanovic reacted to this by saying that "Serbia has already lost Kosovo" to which Jeremic retorted that Serbia "will not lose Kosovo as long as it fights for it", and that it will lose it "only when it accepts statements such as that uttered by Jovanovic". Jovanovic criticized official Belgrade for "insisting that the whole region has to accept a stand that is acceptable only to Serbia and no one else", and that when it says that Kosovo is not independent, Belgrade "harasses the whole region".
Jeremic responded that this is "definitely not the case, since Serbia was not the one to recognize secession of part of territory of any regional state". The foreign minister also said that he believed it was possible to join the EU with unsolved territorial issues, and mentioned Cyprus in this context. That country, he said, became an EU member, "even though for 30 years they were told to give up on a part of their territory, and even though they did not agree to that". "We learned from Cyprus how to fight for Kosovo. Cyprus is a living example," Jeremic said, and added that although the task ahead of Serbia is more difficult, "that does not mean that we should give up".

MILETIC: U.S. IS NOT PRESSURING SERBIA TO JOIN NATO

BELGRADE, March 8 (Tanjug) - Serbian Armed Forces (VS) Chief of Gerneral Staff General Miloje Miletic said Monday that there is no pressure from the U.S. to change Serbia's view on NATO and join that organization. Miletic described his recent visit to the U.S. as very positive.
Miletic told TV B92 that the American officials he met with are aware that the Serbian Parliament has adopted a resolution on military neutrality and that the country has opted to cooperate with NATO through the Partnership for Peace programme. Miletic stated that the Hungarian military chief of general staff was also there during the visit, and that the three sides discussed the possibilities of trilateral cooperation, which would involve improving military capabilities. According to Miletic, they agreed that the cooperation would include crisis response planning, air force and peace operations, as well as the professional development of officers.

GENERAL MILETIC: KOSOVO REMAINS GREATEST SECURITY RISK

BELGRADE, March 8 (Tanjug) - Chief of the Serbian Army General Staff General Miloje Miletic said Monday that Kosovo-Metohija remains the greatest security risk for Serbia and in the region. The problem does not require a military engagement, but the situation is a cause for concern which requires a solution, he told B92 TV.
Instabilities in Kosovo-Metohija can be transferred to the region, especially southern Serbia, northern Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, he said. Asked whether he was satisfied with cooperation with KFOR, Miletic said he was, although it abandoned the framework of neutrality through some of its decisions regarding implementation of Ahtisaari's plan and its decision to take part in forming the Kosovo Security Forces. This is one of the reasons why the cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR was somewhat reduced, to a technical level, he said.



PAJTIC PRESENTS VOJVODINA'S INVESTMENT POTENTIAL IN ISRAEL

NOVI SAD/TEL AVIV, March 8 (Tanjug) - President of the Executive Council of the Serbian Autonomous Province of Vojvodina Bojan Pajtic met with Israel's Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon in Tel Aviv on Monday and presented Vojvodina's investment potential and the Executive Council's measures to stimulate investments and create new jobs.
According to an announcement by the Vojvodina Secretariat for Information, the measures are both financial and logistical and involve several secretariats. Some 40 percent of Vojvodina's total production is related to the agricultural industry, which is why Israeli investors are interested in it, says the announcement.

GROUP OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO RETURN TO SERBIA ON MARCH 10

BELGRADE, March 8 (Tanjug) - A group of Serbian citizens who have requested political asylum in Belgium will head back to Serbia on March 10, Belgian Ambassador to Serbia Denise de Hauwere said. Only the asylum seekers who agree to return will be taken back this time, she told Tanjug Monday.
De Hauwere said she would visit southern Serbia Tuesday together with a Belgian delegation to confer on this problem with representatives of local authorities. She expressed her conviction that the Serbian authorities are equally concerned with this problem and wish to resolve it too. The Tuesday talks will also focus on ways the trend of growing number of requests for asylum can be halted, De Hauwere said.
Since the beginning of this year, the number of Serbian citizens who have requested political asylum in Belgium was twice as high as that registered in the entire 2009, reaching 330 in February 2010 only. Most of the asylum seekers are Roma and ethnic Albanians, mainly from southern Serbia.

SERBIA - ECONOMY, FINANCE

CVETKOVIC: NO RELIABLE INDICATIONS END OF CRISIS IS NEAR

KOPAONIK, March 9 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said on Tuesday there are no reliable indications on the basis of which it would be possible to claim that Serbia is already out of the crisis, but added there is reason for optimism.
Opening the Business Forum on Mt. Kopaonik, Cvetkovic underlined that the main challenges in 2010 will be prevention of further rises in unemployment, increase of domestic demand and macroeconomic stability, with the focus on inflation and foreign exchange rate. The prime minister underscored that the government's objectives in 2010 will be growth of economic activity, stability of domestic currency, reduction of public expenditure, preservation of social security, continuation of reforms in the public sector, acceptance of European standards and fight against corruption and crime.
Cvetkovic pointed to certain encouraging facts - increase of industrial growth by 3.7 percent at the beginning of January, 31 percent export rise in the first two months of the year and 1.5 percent increase of composite index of leading, all of which, as he noted, signals GDP growth. According to the prime minister, negative signals are lower budget revenues than planned for the first two months, drop in domestic demand and three-percent decrease of imports in January and February.

SKUNDRIC: SERBIA WANTS ENERGY COOPERATION WITH WHOLE REGION

GORIZIA, March 8 (Tanjug) - The South Stream gas pipeline, underground gas storage facilities, gas interconnections with the countries in the region, the Pan-European Oil Pipeline, projects in the area of electric energy, as well as the production, transport and turnover of electric energy are all energy projects of great importance to the Adriatic-Balkan region and of special interest to Serbia, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Petar Skundric said on Monday.
At the two-day international forum Development Scenarios for the Adriatic-Balkan Region held in Gorizia, Italy, Skundric stressed that Serbia is also interested in the realization of infrastructure projects, such as transport corridors 7 and 10 and multimodal corridor 11 in road infrastructure. Skundric, who also met with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, pointed out that it is in the common interest of the countries in the Adriatic-Balkan region to further strengthen friendly relations and mutual cooperation, which can accelerate the realization of goals outlined in Serbia's National Development Strategy, such as increasing the gross domestic product and employment rate, improving living conditions, developing good neighborly relations in the region and Europe, and becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union. Skundric stressed that Serbia is interested in improving cooperation with Italy and the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, as well as all countries in the Adriatic-Balkan region.

SERBIA AND BULGARIA NEED MORE STABLE ECONOMIC RELATIONS

SOFIA, March 9 (Tanjug) - Serbian Ambassador to Bulgaria Aleksandar Crkvenjakov has stated that the economic relations between Serbia and Bulgaria should be developed toward more stable ties that would be more resistant to market changes.
The fact that we are neighbors does not mean that we should realize trade exchange only in the domain of raw materials and semi-finished products but we could also enter joint ventures and manufacture one product at one side of the border and another at the other and then export them to some other state, the ambassador said. Crkvenjakov said in an interview for the Radio Bulgaria in the Serbian program that Serbia and Bulgaria as neighboring countries have high-quality economic relations which nevertheless may be influenced by crisis.
"The 2008 trade exchange amounted to close to one billion dollars, but was reduced by half in the previous year. The fact reflects not only the influence of the crisis but also the quality of economic relations which are fragile and react to economic changes," he underscored.

EUR 40 MILLION TO SUPPORT SERBIA'S EU INTEGRATION

BELGRADE, March 8 (Tanjug) - The Swiss government will support Serbia's European integration process by financing a cooperation program worth EUR 40 million over the next four years, Swiss Cooperation Office in Serbia Director Beatrice Meyer said on Monday.
Presenting the new Cooperation Strategy 2010-2013, she stressed that the program envisages activities in four main areas - economic development, rule of law and democracy, education and energy efficiency and renewable energy. Meyer said that the two countries have cooperated closely for nearly 20 years and reminded that Swiss donations to Serbia since 1991 have reached around EUR 200 million.
Swiss Ambassador to Serbia Erwin Hofer said that the most important goal of the two countries' cooperation through these programs is supporting Serbia's European integration and improving its chances of joining the European Union. Hofer said that the cooperation between the two countries will have two components in the coming period - social and economic - and explained that the social part entails increasing social inclusion and reducing poverty in Serbia, while the economic segment entails helping Serbia to become more competitive in the market. He reminded of the historically good relations between Serbia and Switzerland, pointing out that the bilateral cooperation was very intensive last year, and included, among other things, two meetings of the countries' presidents. Serbia's Assistant Finance Minister Gordana Lazarevic noted the decades-long cooperation between the two countries which is continually on the rise, although it has gone through different stages.
Lazarevic particularly stressed Switzerland's support in international financial institutions (the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and among the wealthy donor countries, adding that the country plays a major role in the restructuring of Serbia's existing debt and the granting of new loans.

KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

PAHOR: NO AGREEMENT ABOUT SLOVENIA CONFERENCE

PRISTINA, March 9 (Beta, B 92) - Slovenian PM Borut Pahor said that disputes have not been settled concerning a conference of the region's leaders. He spoke in Priština after meeting with the Kosovo Albanian Prime minister Hashim Thaci, Beta news agency reported. Pahor said he would "like to see all the region's leaders in Slovenia, including Serbian President Boris Tadic and Thaci". Following Belgrade's demand that Priština officials appear under the name "UNMIK-Kosovo," the representation of states as well as a joint declaration remain problematic.
"At this moment, I cannot say that all problems concerning the conference organization have been settled," Pahor stressed. He went on to say that diplomatic efforts will continue in order to ensure the presence of all Balkan leaders who would discuss the region's European future with EU leaders. "It is however not the only problem we are facing," Pahor noted, adding: "You imagine us at the end of the conference wishing to adopt a declaration on the EU future of the Western Balkans and imagine what a job would it be to compose a declaration acceptable to all."
Thaci did not specify Priština's official position concerning its desire to take part as an equal state, but confirmed Kosovo's readiness to take part in all international initiatives and regional conferences.

KUCI: WITH ALLIES AGAINST BELGRADE'S INITIATIVE IN UNSC

PRISTINA, March 9 (Tanjug) - Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci has said that Pristina, through the influence of friendly countries, will react to, as he put it, the efforts of Belgrade to encourage talks on the status of Kosovo by the adoption of a new resolution on Kosovo in the UN General Assembly.
We are fully coordinated with our foreign friends, and we are as well convinced that the UN Security Council (UNSC), more exactly the UN General Assembly, will realize that Kosovo has completed the issue of negotiations, and its status will not be the topic of the discussion during the assembly's sitting, Kuci pointed out. With such a resolution, Serbia could only increase dilemmas regarding the recognition of Kosovo's independence even more, he stressed.
The Pristina daily Express reports that it is expected that the Serbian diplomacy will start the initiative for the adoption of the resolution around the same time when the International Court of Justice should state its opinion concerning the legality of the proclamation of Kosovo independence. Kuci pointed out that the Kosovo authorities are acquainted with the plan and efforts of Serbia to prevent new recognitions of Kosovo's independence.

KOSOVO GOVT TO FORM SIX WORKING GROUPS FOR NORTHERN KOSOVO

PRISTINA, March 9 (Tanjug) - The Kosovo interim government will form six working groups for the implementation of the strategy for the northern Kosovo, and the groups will comprise of the representatives of the government, the opposition and the civil sector, with the intention of Pristina reaching a unity in the implementation of the plan, the Pristina press reports Tuesday.
The government made this decision at a regular session Monday, and a group for the law implementation, group for the return, reconciliation and inter-ethnic dialogue and group for social-economic development will be formed. The three remaining groups are for the reform of the local self-government, group for the provision of public services and group for communication.
President of the Kosovo interim government Hasim Taci said that the activities of the six groups will be monitored by a special financial fund. With the strategy for the northern Kosovo, the Kosovo interim government and the International Civilian Office intend to integrate the northern part of the province, where Serbs are a majority population. However, the Serbs in the north are opposed to Pristina's strategy, expressing their commitment to Belgrade.

ZANNIER: TO RESOLVE SIMPLE ISSUES AND PUT MAJOR TOPICS ASIDE

BELGRADE, March 9 (Tanjug) - Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and Head of Mission Lamberto Zannier stated that the division within the UN Security Council (SC) regarding the Kosovo issue makes even the solving of simple problems difficult, adding that the issues should be depoliticized and the major topics put aside.
The first thing that crosses my mind is the fact that when I go to New York, I see the Security Council still divided in respect of the Kosovo issue, Zannier said. Different opinions affect many issues in the field, he added. The recognition process is not how the Kosovo side expected it would be. Everything is prone to politicization. Therefore, the solving of relatively simple issues is difficult. For example, the payment of the electricity bills because of the seal on them. We must try to depoliticize things and to put the major topics aside.
The social and economic development is in the interest of all people, Zannier said for the Belgrade daily Vecernje novosti. When it comes to the response that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver on the legality of the self-declared independence of Kosovo, Zannier said that the UN General Assembly will decide if there is a need for debate on the opinion. There is no menu from which the Assembly can choose what to do when the ICJ delivers its response on the Kosovo case.
The starting point of the debate in the General Assembly will be only the opinion of the Court and we should wait for it. The Assembly will decide if there is a need for debate. There is no pattern determined in advance, Zannier pointed out. When asked if the ICJ's decision was that the unilaterally declared independence was legal, would it be a message that the UN administration is only one step away from secession in a territory, Zannier said no. The fact that I am here and that UNMIK operates even after the declaration of independence says this is not the case, Zannier underscored.

KSF: DISPUTE WITH KFOR TO BE OVERCOME

PRISTINA, March 8 (Tanjug) - Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) released in a statement on Monday that the dispute over the incident when members of KSF guard disregarded the prohibition of carrying weapons at the celebration of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) will be overcome, and evaluated that the cooperation of that military formation with KFOR and NATO is necessary for peace and stability in Kosovo and the region.
The ministry and KSF will continue their close cooperation with KFOR and NATO, and will keep performing their duties in accordance with the Constitution, laws and the all-encompassing bill on solving the Kosovo status, the statement reads. The reaction of the Kosovo ministry followed the decision of KFOR Commander Markus Bentler to suspend the cooperation and training of KSF because their representatives disregarded the prohibition of carrying weapons at the celebration of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Pristina.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has pledged to provide training and supply weapons for the KSF, pointed out that the halt of these activities will last until the alliance is provided with an explanation on the incident at the parade and guarantees that such incidents will not happen again. NATO also protested over the display of its flag at the parade, and underscored that the organization is neutral in view of Kosovo's independence. According to the NATO's plans, the KSF was set up for emergency reactions, such as natural hazards, and its formation was launched after the Kosovo Protection Corps was disbanded, and the Kosovo leaders saw it as the basis of the future Kosovo army.

NATO DIPLOMATS: KOSOVO LEADERS IGNORE OUR INSTRUCTIONS

PRISTINA, March 9 (Tanjug) - The NATO officials were most deeply angered with the fact that the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) guard appeared at the celebration of the Kosovo Liberation Army Day with weapons and under the NATO flag, even though the Kosovo political leaders were warned by KFOR a day earlier that this must not happen, the Pristina daily Koha Ditore reports Tuesday.
The paper reports the statements of a NATO diplomatic source in Brussels that if they had wanted to damage the relations with the NATO, the people of Kosovo could not have found a worse moment. According to Koha Ditore, KFOR Commander Markus Bentler made a decision on a temporary suspension of cooperation between KFOR and KFS after it was determined that the KSF members did not adhere to the obligation not to carry weapons at the celebration held in Pristina.
This is a very wrong signal sent to the countries which support neither the KSF nor Ahtisaari's plan nor the independence of Kosovo, and which did not obstruct the NATO in creating this formation, and this was a mistake made by Kosovo, the diplomat of the NATO member state, one which supports KSF, underscored.

ICO SUPPORTS FREEZE OF KFOR COOPERATION WITH KSF

PRISTINA, March 8 (Tanjug) - The International Civilian Office (ICO) supports KFOR's decision to temporarily freeze cooperation with the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) for breaking the agreement on not carrying weapons at public gatherings, Pristina daily Koha Ditore writes.
The decision of the Commander of the NATO led Kosovo Force (KFOR) Markus Bentler to halt all support and KSF training activities until further notice was approved and supported by ICO, headed by Peter Feith, the paper says. ICO is entrusted with implementing Martti Ahtisaari's plan on the basis of which Kosovo declared its independence, the paper notes.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) stated on Sunday that it will suspend training of the Kosovo Security Forces because their representatives disregarded the prohibition of carrying weapons at a celebration of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Pristina. According to NATO plans, the KSF was set up for emergency reactions, such as natural disasters, and its formation was launched after the Kosovo Protection Corps was disbanded and the Kosovo leaders saw it as the basis of the future Kosovo army.