Belgrade, 16. 02. 2010.

BELGRADE, Feb 15 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Hero in Avala mountain, on the occasion of Sretenje - Serbia's Statehood Day, and signed the memorial book. "For Serbia, which is grand in its deeds and within its people," Tadic wrote in the book. The central manifestation on the occasion of the Statehood Day was held in Orasac village, where First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire began in 1804, and in Kragujevac, where the first Constitution of Serbia was adopted in 1835.

BELGRADE, Feb 15 (Tanjug) - Serbia's European pathway is no longer being questioned, we are getting closer to the EU membership, and we are reestablishing connections with the world, which had been disrupted for years, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic stated at a ceremony at the National Theatre in Belgrade, on the occasion of the marking of the Statehood Day. Cvetkovic stressed that the Serbian citizens can now travel freely, adding that there is an unobstructed flow of goods and capital with Europe, which is a confirmation, as he put it, that Serbia is an economically and politically stable country. Serbia is becoming a regional leader, without jeopardizing anyone, by introducing European and civilization standards in the establishment of a legal order and the respect of human and minority rights of all citizens, Cvetkovic underscored. "The issue of Kosovo-Metohija, the most delicate issue not only for Serbia's, but also for the regional and European security and policy, is being resolved with our strong determination to defend our legitimate rights in our own territory, in accordance with the international law, by peaceful means, patiently and with perseverence, he said. Cvetkovic pointed out that there is no reason and that it makes no sense for anyone to doubt that Serbia will concede in the defense of its legitimate interests regarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty. "We are trying to initiate a genuine process of the return of the displaced people and to create conditions for a normal life in the southern Serbian province. Future cannot be built with conflicts, but rather with agreements, and the inhabitants of this territory depend on each other and that is why Serbia is in favor of serious talks which will be a basis for a healthy process of reconciliation in the Balkans," Cvetkovic said. "We want all the citizens of KiM to live in peace, to enjoy all the rights and possibilities to work and earn their living," the prime minister stressed.

BELGRADE, Feb 15 (Tanjug) - Presidents of France and the USA, Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama respectively, congratulated President Tadic on Serbia's Statehood Day, stressing their support to Belgrade in its efforts to establish the best possible relations in the region and in its European integration pathway, the Serbian President's press service stated. On behalf of the French people, Sarkozy said that, in the past year, Serbia has, owing to its persistence, crossed the essential stages on its path towards the EU. I am genuinely pleased about this and I encourage you to continue making efforts in that direction, Sarkozy said. France has so far supported and will continue supporting your efforts on your EU integration pathway, he added. Taking into account Serbia's history, significance and influence, I believe that you will enable your country to fulfil its role, with the aim of strengthening peace and continuing the reconciliation process in the Western Balkans, Sarkozy stressed. On behalf of the American people, US President Obama expressed heartfelt congratulations and best wishes, adding that the US join the people of Serbia in highlighting the common, core values of tolerance, freedom and democracy. We remain devoted to supporting Serbia in its efforts to establish the best possible relations in the region, he added.

BELGRADE, Feb 12 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic congratulated February 15, the Army Day, to all members of the Serbian Army. "Marking of the Statehood and Army Day unites identities of the Army and the state thus bringing out again their deep inter-connection in Serbia's statehood tradition," Tadic said in his statement.He pointed out that, in the past year, in the period of great challenges and economic crisis, the Serbian Army has provided full support to the preservation of peace, security and stabilization in the region, and to Serbia's EU integration. "I strongly believe that you will continue professionally carrying out the set goals and fulfilling obligations which are ahead of you," Tadic said. "I congratulate this holiday to you and I wish that you successfully continue the started reforms, and to raise the operative and functional efficiency of the Serbian Army to a higher level," he underscored. Serbian Defense Ministry and the Serbian Army will organize a series of activities to mark the February 15, the Army Day, in memory of Sretenje (Presentation of Jesus at the Temple) and the beginning of the creation of a contemporary Serbian state and army. February 15, (1804) is the date which symbolizes the beginning of the creation of the new Serbian country and the Serbian army. This date was also determined to be the National Day.

PANCEVO, Feb 14 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic stated that the Declaration of Serbia's military neutrality will not be altered by the end of the Serbian government's mandate in 2012, and that the issue of Serbia's NATO membership will not be raised. Tadic told the journalists in Pancevo that the Serbian government, regardless of all "daily political games," will not raise any issues regarding the membership in the NATO. He assessed that all requests for holding a referendum on Serbia's NATO membership are unnecessary, as "no one in the world organizes a referendum to decide what people do not want, but rather to decide what they want." Tadic underscored that Serbia is already in the Partnership for Peace Programme and that it intends to increase its participation in the Programme. He said that there is a possibility that Serbia could have an advanced status within the programme, which is the country's strategic plan.

PANCEVO, Feb 14 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic stated that there will be no parliamentary elections until 2012, because a majority of Serbian citizens are presently not in favor of the elections and because the state has "more important things to do than to organize elections." In a statement for the journalists at the Serbian Army barracks in Pancevo, on the occasion of the celebration of the Serbian Army Day, Tadic said that there will be no elections before the regular term in 2012, and that the citizens will then show who has done what. "The citizens are well aware of who has done what, and that is why a majority of citizens are not in favor of elections. Only a majority of members of oppositional parties want elections to be held now. However, at this point, Serbia now has more important tasks to perform than to organize elections," he underscored. Regarding the gathering of signatures for the holding of early elections, organized by the oppositional parties, Tadic said that "the opposition are doing their job, the government as well, and that is good for the society."

NIS, Feb 13 (Tanjug) - Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated in Nis that the international community must focus on the security of Kosovo and that no unilateral actions from any side should be allowed to happen. "The security of Kosovo and the region would be seriously jeopardized if there were any unilateral moves regarding the North of the province," Jeremic told the journalists. We have clearly presented this fact to the international community, he said, referring to President Tadic's address to the UN SC on January and continuous contacts with the representatives of KFOR and NATO. According to Jeremic, Serbia's most important duty is to protect the Serbs and cultural heritage in Kosovo, whereas KFOR bears the sole responsibility for the security of Serbs according to the Res 1244. "We will insist politically and diplomatically that they should fulfill this obligation with as many force as available," Jeremic stressed. He pointed out that Serbia's position is that there must be no reduction of forces, and should that nevertheless happen, then they must be concentrated in places where the protection of the Serbs, Serbian churches and monasteries is necessary.

BELGRADE, Feb 12 (Tanjug) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSP) is auditing the lease procedures and expenses of its diplomatic-consular network so far and has already managed to realize substantial savings, MSP Political Director Borko Stefanovic told. "The audit was given a legal framework by the adoption the decree that regulates the sphere at the previous session of the Serbian government," Stefanovic said, adding that the analysis of expenses and their justifiability has been carried out in the ministry in the previous year and a half. By the implementation of the audit, the MSP acts in keeping with the decision of the Serbian government rendered in December 2009 that gives guidelines to the ministry and recommends the analysis of all expenses related to the diplomatic-consular network, he said. "In the manner, in the period between January and November 2009 a saving of about one billion dinars was realized compared to 2008. That was realized through savings at all levels including lease costs, official travels and reduced number of the employees," Stefanovic said. Stefanovic added that the audit that is currently being implemented by the MSP organs will enable realization of greater savings through additional examinations of expenses. When asked what is the reason why Serbian Ambassador to UNESCO Zorica Tomic can not perform the activities of Serbia's presentation in some building that Serbia already has or rents in Paris, Stefanovic said that that is not allowed by the regulations of the host-country and that such practice does not exist. Stefanovic pointed out the UNESKO's importance for Serbia at the moment and the good-quality work that the ambassador performed so far. The Serbian media reported in the last two days about high lease expenses of Serbian UNESCO Ambassador to Paris Zorica Tomic who was appointed to the position in September 2009.

BELGRADE, Feb 15 (Tanjug) - Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac stated that the army and the police in the South of Serbia can secure stability and peace, adding that the terrorist act in Bujanovac, in which member of the Serbian police (MUP) Bljerim Mustafa was severely injured, "causes for monitoring methods." "Every attack on the police, the army and state officials is an act of terrorism, but last night's incident causes for monitoring methods in order to find the people who have attacked the members of the Mustafa family three times already," Sutanovac stated for B92. He said that the police and the Serbian Army control the situation and that they will do their best to find the perpetrators. "We must find a way to prevent any escalation of conflicts, and I believe that we have sufficient force, particularly when it comes to individual incidents," Sutanovac underscored.

ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated that the need for the promotion of cooperation in the fight against organized crime along the so-called Balkan Route was recognized at the conference of the regional police heads in Zagreb. After the end of the conference dubbed Balkan route - yesterday, today, tomorrow, Dacic said that the cooperation between ministries resulted in numerous joint actions of the regional police, including the positive example of cooperation between the Croatian and Serbian police in the investigation on the perpetrators and masterminds of the murder of co-owner of the Zagreb-based daily Nacional Ivo Pukanic. The cooperation between the regional police departments should be strong and continuous, no matter the political relations between the countries, Dacic pointed out in statement for a group of Serbian journalists. Dacic said that the police cooperation is important in the fight against trafficking and selling of drugs, primarily because 80 percent of the heroin from Afghanistan to the West Europe and a great percentage of the cocaine from South America to the West-European countries are transported via the region that is the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Dacic underscored the need to remove all the legal obstacles for the arrest of persons who took part in organized crime and to establish a regional center that will serve for the exchange of data and coordination of police activities related to the fight against the regional criminal groups. He said that four tons of cocaine were successfully seized owing to the information provided by the Serbian BIA. Referring to the case of the Saric brothers who are charged with cocaine smuggling, he pointed out that the Serbian police could not file data to their Montenegrin colleagues due to the secrecy of investigation since all members of the group who are at large would learn about the investigation. The Montenegrin police have released two persons arrested on the basis of the Serbian warrant. "I expect that our cooperation with the police in other countries will be as successful as the cooperation with the Croatian Ministry" Dacic said.

BELGRADE, Feb 16 (Tanjug) - Several renowned members of the US Congress will visit Serbia the next few days, Tanjug learned at the US Embassy in Belgrade. Press Attache of the embassy Brian Stimmler explained there will be two separate visits. The US Senators George Vojinovic and Jeanne Shaheen will come first, and stay in Serbia from February 17 to 19, as part of an overall visit to the region. Vojinovic is well acquainted with the situation in Serbia and the Balkans, and senator Shaheen is a member of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate's Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. Shaheen is in charge of issues related to NATO, EU, Balkans, Russia, Turkey, and Kosovo, states the website of the US Senate. From February 18 to 21, a member of the US House of Representatives, Earl Pomeroy, will also be on a visit to Serbia. Pomeroy, as well as the incumbent deputy of the US Ambassador to Belgrade, Jennifer Brush, first visited Serbia way back in 1973, within a student exchange program.

BELGRADE, Feb 14 (Tanjug) - There are no open issues between Serbia and Egypt, and the relations between the two countries are the ones of friendship, closeness and cooperation, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated after the meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul-Gheit. "I would like to thank Egypt for their principled support in the fight for the preservation of Kosovo, the support that Serbia will never forget," Jeremic said at the Foreign Ministry headquarters. He informed Gheit about the current situation in the Balkans and its possible development, adding that Serbia and Egypt have "a long tradition of bilateral relations." Ahmed Aboul-Gheit is the first Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt to pay an official visit to Serbia. "Egypt and Serbia will continue fostering good relations in all areas of cooperation," he pointed out, expressing his satisfaction for visiting Serbia. Gheit said that he will deliver the written note of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to President Tadic and thanked on the support that Serbia is giving to Egypt within the UN and other international organizations. Jeremic underscored that he agreed with Gheit that, in 2011, Serbia and Egypt should properly mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement, which is currently being presided over by Egypt.

BELGRADE, Feb 14 (Tanjug) - Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic assessed that the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit to Serbia is a confirmation of good relations between the two countries, adding that it is necessary to improve economic cooperation as well. "We very much appreciate Egypt's firm position in defending the principles of international law, as well as their participation in the process of determining the legality of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija," Cvetkovic said. According to the statement of the Serbian government's Office of Media Relations, Cvetkovic and Gheit agreed that there is potential for the improvement of economic cooperation, not only in respect of increasing the volume of trade, but also in the area of investments. The forthcoming visit of distinguished Egyptian economists to Serbia, scheduled for Febr 25, is particularly important for the improvement of economic cooperation, the statement reads. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit was also received by Serbian President Boris Tadic, who pointed out that Serbia and Egypt have traditionally friendly and close relations, and that there are many possibilities for the improvement of the economic cooperation between the two countries.

BELGRADE, Feb 13 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic stated that Serbia will be prepared for the European Commission's (EC) questionnaire. Immediately after we have been given "the green light", the EC will send us the questionnaire, Djelic said in an interview for the Belgrade daily Politika, adding that this information was confirmed by newly appointed EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele during their talks in Brussels. Djelic said that this is "very reassuring," as Serbia will be ready for this step and that by May it will have prepared all answers to the questions received by the countries which are one month ahead of Serbia in this process. He announced that the first session of the Serbia-EU committee for monitoring the implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement will be held on March 2. "We will examine everything we have done since January 2009, so we will have strong arguments in that respect as well," Djelic underscored, adding that the assessment of Serbia's European capacities concerning the reduction of administration is currently underway. Djelic stressed that the Spanish EU Presidency said that they will try to bring Serbia's request for EU membership before the Council of the EU as soon as possible, but they also made it clear that this requires a consensus of all EU member states.

LJUBLJANA, Feb 16 (Tanjug) - The international conference on the West Balkans that is to be held late in March in Slovenia will be an important event for the region, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor stated Monday evening during talks in Brdo near Kranj. Pahor pointed out that the meeting will be decisive factor for many aspects and Ashton told the Slovenian prime minister that he will have her full support in the organization of the conference, which will be the first meeting of all leaders in the West Balkans after 18 years, the Ljubljana-based news agency STA stated. The conference was initiated by Pahor and his Croatian counterpart Jadranka Kosor and the organizers will be, besides Slovenia and Croatia, the European Council and the European Commission.

BELGRADE, Feb 13 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic stated that, without Serbia's consent, Kosovo can never become a UN member state, and an entity which tends to become independent without a chance of becoming a UN member can never truly be an independent country. "This very fact clearly shows that without Serbia the future status of Kosovo-Metohija cannot be resolved," Tadic said for the Odbrana magazine. Serbia cannot resolve the issue of KiM in a long-term and sustainable way without the cooperation with the international community. Likewise, the international community cannot resolve the issue of Kosovo without Serbia, Tadic said, answering the questions regarding the southern Serbian province. For these reasons, Serbia brought the issue before the international institutions, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and when the ICJ has given its opinion, Serbia will decide on what legal and diplomatic steps to take.

BELGRADE, Feb 12 (Tanjug) - Commander of U.S. European Command (USECOM) and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) James Stavridis said in Belgrade that the KFOR will take care of all the security aspects in Kosovo and Metohija. During a meeting with Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lt. General Miloje Miletic, Stavridis said that, when it comes to further reduction of KFOR troops, Serbia will be consulted, the Serbian Ministry of Defense has released in a statement. Miletic and Stavridis discussed the cooperation within the program Partnership for Peace (PfP) and orientation towards a maximum usage of the mechanisms included in the program. The chief of the General Staff expressed the need for training of persons preparing for the engagement in the Serbian mission in Brussels, which Stavridis accepted, offering the training in the South Command in Naples," the statement reads. Stavridis and Miletic also discussed the cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR, and Miletic pointed out that "the envisaged dynamics of the reduction of KFOR troops makes room for instability in terms of security." Miletic "demanded that KFOR, in accordance with the obligations, provides protection of all the people living in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as of objects of historical, cultural and national importance for Serbia." Admiral Stavridis underlined that KFOR will take care of all the security aspects, and added that Serbia will be consulted regarding the reduction of the troops. Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, as well, talked with Admiral Stavridis on Friday, the statement of the ministry in charge concludes.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Feb 14 (Tanjug) - KFOR is the mission which will protect the cultural-historical monuments in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM), and not the Kosovo Security Force (KBS), KFOR Commander Lt. Gen. Markus Bentler stated. The cultural monuments will not be secured by KBS, as this is not their duty, Bentler said, adding that KBS is a security mission, lightly armed and in charge of demining, extinguishing fires, removal of hazardous waste, search and rescuing. KBS is not here to protect anything and that must be made clear, said Bentler, adding that such information about KBS were speculations. He said that, after thorough preparations, this duty may be assumed by the Kosovo Police Service (KPS). KPS members, assigned to protect the cultural-historical monuments, will be from various ethnic communities, including the Serb community, Bentler pointed out. He said that KFOR has a healthy, mature and professional cooperation with the Serbian Army, and that they maintain regular contact. Speaking about the Serbian institutions in Kosovo, Bentler said that this is a political issue in which KFOR will not interfere, and should it prove to be necessary, they will do it indirectly. KFOR is an unbiased mission, which is here under the Resolution 1244, it is status neutral and does not deal with political matters that must be resolved in a political way, he underscored. Bentler assessed that the security situation in Kosovo is stable and that a lot has been done in the past ten years, which is a great success for everyone.

PRISTINA, Feb 15 (Tanjug) - Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme postponed his visit to Kosovo, due to the railway accident that happened near Brussels, in which between 12 and 25 people were killed. Leterme was to meet with Kosovo President and Prime Minister, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hasim Taci respectively, in Pristina. Sejdiu and Taci's cabinets stated that the plane of the Belgian prime minister had already reached the airport in Pristina when it turned around to go back to Brussels, having been informed about the accident.