Kostunica, Tadic optimistic about final resolution of Kosovo’s status

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has said that the Kosovo story is not over yet and that there is still room for optimism as regards the final resolution of this issue.

(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, April 14, 2008

"Many believed that time would heal the wounds, that Serbia would yield to the pressure and that the world would consent to a serious violation of international law, but this did not happen. The very fact that about 150 countries, which have not recognised Kosmet's inependence, have taken Serbia's side tells us a lot," Kostunica said.

"Now things regarding Kosovo are getting worse and worse for those that have recognised independence, but they are a lot better than had been expected as far as Serbia itself is concerned. This is why I think there is room for optimism," Kostunica concluded.

Meanwhile, President Boris Tadic said the low number of countries which have recognized Kosovo's secession represent "without any doubt the success of Serbia's foreign policy".

"Our next goal is the General Assembly of the UN, and we want as few countries as possible to recognize Kosovo's secession, and to strengthen our argumentation with an opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. I am convinced that its opinion will show that Kosovo's independence was illegal and that some countries which have recognized independence will find themselves in a major problem", Tadic said.

And former UN special rapporteur on human rights, Czech Jiri Dienstbier, said Serbia could  count on a high degree of solidarity in Europe regarding the Kosovo issue.

"It is not Serbia that is in isolation, but rather the Kosovo pseudo state", Diensbier said.