Belgrade: No reason to close Serbia’s office in Kosovska Mitrovica
Serbian State Secretary for Kosovo Dusan Prorokovic said there were no reasons for the closure of the office recently opened by the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo in Kosovska Mitrovica.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, December 20, 2007
Prorokovic was reacting to a call by British ambassador to the UN John Sawers who urged Belgrade authorities on Wednesday, after a session of the Security Council, to close the office and not to cut electricity distribution to the province.
"Sawers should be acquainted with the fact that the ministry had already given the legal explanation to the members of the Contact Group. There are no reasons for the closure of our office and we will continue functioning as planned", Prorokovic said.
In terms of electricity, he said, there is no threat from Belgrade, but a respect of a legal basis.
"If there was a unilateral declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanians, Belgrade would not recognize it and it would be impossible for the Government of Serbia to sign any agreement with such Kosovo", Prorokovic said.
A signing of such an agreement "would mean the recognition of Kosovo by official Belgrade, which is impossible".
"A nervous reaction by the supporters of independence of Kosovo shows all the cracks in their proposals (...) this is why negotiations between the Serbian and the Albanian side do not have any alternatives", Prorokovic said.
