Bogdanovic: Issue of Kosovo not yet resolved
Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic stated Monday that the Serbian government is making a great effort, with legal and diplomatic means, to prevent many countries from recognizing the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"It is well-known that one part of the EU member states and other countries have still not recognized Kosovo, and we are being reassured that they will never do that, unless Serbia makes such decision itself," Bogdanovic stated for Belgrade radio and television B92, in view of the first anniversary of the proclamation of Kosovo Constitution, written according to Martti Ahtisaari's plan, which was dismissed in the UN and the Serbian parliament.
Bogdanovic underscored that he does not share the opinion of the U.S. and other countries that the issue of Kosovo is solved.
"We are making huge efforts, as did all previous governments, to preserve a part of our territory," the minister said.
In view of the UN Security Council's session on Kosovo which is to be held Wednesday, the minister pointed out that this is the first time that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report is "balanced."
"Ban Ki-moon's report is realistic, it encompasses all segments of life in Kosovo. At this point, the most important thing for us is that he stressed that there are no returns to the province, that there is still no guaranteed security and that Serbs are not prepared to accept the independence of Kosovo and its institutions," Bogdanovic underscored.
When asked about what the Serbian government does in order to protect the Serbs in Kosovo, Bogdanovic said that in the next few days the government will publish a list of legal entities that will receive the incentives the ministry has allocated for their business activities.
"It is in the government's and the ministry's best interest to economically strengthen the Serbian community in Kosovo," the minister pointed out.
According to him, a return of about 450 families will be organized at the beginning of July, which will be a proper test for the international community.
Bogdanovic added that money and economic security are not the only preconditions for the return of Serbs to Kosovo, but above all legal security, education and employment possibilities.
