Tadic: I only propose autonomy
Serbian President Boris Tadic on Tuesday stated that Serbia's and his own personal stand is that substantial autonomy is the framework within which a solution for the future status of Kosovo should be sought and that Belgrade does not suggest any other solution
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Ahead of his four-day working visit to Germany, Tadic underscored that he would once again confirm his and his country's stand during his meetings with German officials, and that is that substantial autonomy is the solution for the status of Kosovo, that Serbia would never recognize Kosovo's independence and that Serbia uses only legal and diplomatic means to defend its integrity.
"I want to confirm it once again, that I have never suggested any other solution and that I do not propose a partition of Kosovo", said Tadic.
"Intellectuals in Serbia and abroad have been discussing the issue, and that is one of the options that has been underlined in regards to the future status of Kosovo", said Tadic.
"I said I might consider it only in case all other options are exhausted, but whether I would resort to such a solution, it may only be discussed hypothetically today. I thus confirm once again the unanimity of Serbia's policy in regards to Kosovo, a stand of principle and consistence, and that policy will not be changed," said President Tadic.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, European Union special representative in Kosovo Peter Faith said on Tuesday Kosovo's independence was a fact and that it could not be changed even in case that Serbia's initiative before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) should prove as successful.
"Such an initiative is understandable, but is not very helpful", Faith said upon his return from the United States, where he met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried.
"We are not going to reopen the issue of Kosovo status", he underlined.
At the same time, Faith expressed dissatisfaction over the refusal of Romania, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Slovakia to recognize Kosovo.
"This does not make my job any easier", he said.