http://byzantinesacredart.com/blog/2008/04/kosovo-the-main-measure.html
BYZANTINE SACRED ART (CANADA) Vojislav Kostunica: Kosovo is the Measure of Serbia Serbia's Premier: Kosovo Province is Above All In the Saturday interview to Press, Premier Vojislav Kostunica said that Kosovo-Metohija province is the crucial issue for Serbia's citizens at present and, as such, it represents the key according to which his Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS)/New Serbia (NS) coalition will choose its future partners on Serbia's political scene. "Elections are an opportunity for the citizens to evaluate our policy and support us. It is well-known that I accepted the responsibility three times, once as a president of the state and twice as a premier. It is also known that I gave up my posts voluntarily twice. This means that, for me, the political principles are most important and I accept the responsibility only if I am able to implement the principles I believe in, which are in the interest of the state and nation," Kostunica said. Q: Concretely, what kind of result do You expect? VK: I appreciate every vote we receive in the elections, because it is a vote for a principled and clear policy, policy which guarantees the stability to Serbia. When it comes to elections, the Olympic maxim "it is important to take part" does not apply, instead the rule is "it is important to win". Our goal was to win every elections we took part in. The victory means having a decisive influence upon the future development of Serbia. Q: But what would represent a victory or a defeat for You? Which actual result would be satisfactory for DSS-NS [coalition]? VK: I am convinced that DSS-NS has the central position on the Serbian political scene and, in order to fulfill our state and national interests, it is important for these elections to confirm that. Our policy is always steering Serbia toward the firm defense of the essential state interests, while preserving the peace, stability and development of Serbia. The result that enables us to continue in this important role represents the victory. Q: Opponents are accusing You of cherishing power too much. Have You considered leaving the political scene at some point? VK: I can discuss that subject only with those who have biographies similar to mine-those who have been in power three times and gave it up twice, out of their own free will. Regarding the second part of your question, I'm not sure such questions are appropriate in the midst of the election campaign. Right now, I'm thinking about the DSS-NS policy winning the elections. Kosovo-Metohija is the Measure of Serbia Q: Although You refused to speak about it on a number of occasions, we have no choice but to ask the same thing: With whom will You, after the elections, form the government? Or, to rephrase, with whom would You never do so under any circumstances? VK: The current government did not fall because of the opposition, but because of the disagreements within the government regarding the key issue, Kosovo and Metohija. Once you lose trust in someone regarding the vital issue, the only honest thing to do was for me to turn the mandate back to the people. As I was listening the leaders of the coalition Canak-DS-G17 saying the claim that Kosovo is Serbia is a 'collective madness', and when I heard them asserting they 'believe their own eyes that Kosovo is independent', as every citizen of Serbia, I too saw their true faces and realized these people cannot be trusted. Q: Obviously, for You, Kosovo is absolutely the most important issue... VK: That's right. For me, Kosovo-Metohija is more than politics and more than territory, more than any position, more than all the concessions and donations. For me, Kosovo-Metohija is the question of whether we are an actual state and whether we have self-respect as a nation, or we are a puppet state which trades with its vital interests. As far as I'm concerned, this question will be decisive in resolving who will form the future government. Q: Is every possibility of cooperation between DSS-NS and DS-G17 excluded in advance? VK: First, as far as I'm aware, it is the coalition Canak-DS-G17 that is taking part in the elections. It is interesting that Canak was not present in their campaigning thus far, as if they are hiding him from the citizens for some reason. Secondly, as I said, DSS-NS will decide about possible coalitions based on the principles I cited, after the elections and after the national will has been shown. Tadic's Coalition Manipulates and Intimidates Serbian Citizens Q: Is Serbia really risking a new isolation if SRS [Serbian Radical Party] comes to power? VK: There was first the propaganda and intimidation of the citizens that Serbia will 'self-isolate' if the coalition Canak-DS-G17 doesn't get the power. It turned out there is no single case of a country being 'self-isolated' in the known history of the world. After that, the term 'self-isolation' was dropped and replaced with the propaganda about 'isolation'. This means that some mighty countries which have the power to isolate a state, will reach such decision. But I'm asking you now: have you heard the officials of the great powers say that they will isolate Serbia, or have you heard that from the Canak-DS-G17 coalition? The answer to this question says it all. Q: Very harsh words are being spoken in this electoral campaign. Would You say that You and Your associates are exaggerating when claiming these elections are in fact elections for Serbia or against it? Why are those of different opinion automatically against Serbia? VK: It is a known fact that I have been fighting for the freedom of thought and for the democratic values during the past 35 years. Among the present-day advocates of the stand that "Europe has no alternative" I recognize a number of the former safekeepers of the communist ideology. Their aggressiveness and autocracy is the most evident trait both then and now. On the other hand, I have never said, nor thought, that the views different from my own would automatically mean someone is against Serbia. It is a whole other question if some are stating they are against Serbia and that some other interests are more important to them than Serbia. Serbian Premier Should Worry About Serbia's Interests, Not About the EU Interests Q: What is Your position, Mr Prime Minister? Are You a eurosceptic or anti-European? Or something else? And why are You against the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU? VK: I am for Serbia. I am only interested in the Serbian state and its national interests. I wasn't a European Commissar, but Premier of Serbia, and every Premier of Serbia must solely and exclusively worry about Serbia. There is a question of what kind of relations should Serbia have with the EU. The best possible, but only based on equality. Our goal is not to join the EU because of the EU, but in order to benefit Serbia. If Brussels proves it respects Serbia's territorial integrity, I will be the greatest euro-optimist. My attitude toward the EU depends on the attitude the EU has toward Serbia. Canak-DS-G17 Coalition Will Betray Serbia Q: Kosovo is Serbia. The overwhelming majority of the Serbs and Serbian politicians agree with this. Do You really believe Tadic would recognize the independent Kosovo? VK: When it comes to the fate of the country and its territorial integrity, the nice promises and slogans aren't helping one bit. Up to one point, we had the common policy. Then, Tadic said: "For me, it is important to hold the presidential elections now", even though we were at the final stage of the Kosovo-Metohija negotiations and in the midst of declaration of this fake state. I couldn't understand such a decision. Afterwards, Tadic refused to adopt the text of the Kosovo-Metohija Resolution in the National Assembly, for which I even today maintain it was more than moderate and I would have personally prefer if it was much tougher. Finally, the coalition Canak-DS-G17 was formed, and we are aware of the statements about Kosovo-Metohija by this coalition. So, now, Canak and G17 with their statements are guarantors that Tadic won't recognize Kosovo?! Serbian Soldiers Won't Die in Afghanistan and Iraq for Uncle Sam Q: What about the NATO pact? Serbia is almost entirely surrounded by the states which are members of the Western alliance - is our neutral position possible in the long term? VK: NATO pact committed a crime by bombing Serbia. It has then built a huge military base Bondsteel and it is now attempting to legalize the first NATO state where, according to the Ahtisaari plan, the NATO troops commander in Kosovo province is the final instance of power. I am convinced that decision by the Serbian Parliament to declare our military neutrality is of the utmost importance for the state. This is also a guarantee that our soldiers will not die in Afghanistan and Iraq for someone else's interests. I am also certain that Serbia's citizens will never renounce the military neutrality. That story is over. Democracy 101: Let the Citizens Choose their Leaders Freely and Without Intimidation Q: What about the Hague? Is there any point of this institution conditioning the European perspective of our state after the acquittal of Haradinaj? VK: For the EU, the Hague tribunal was thus far a guiding light which was supposed to enlighten the Balkan nations and determine whether Serbia should be allowed to continue the European integrations. Haradinaj was issued a certificate of innocence. We are now interested in the EU position on whether the Hague tribunal remains a legitimate institution that can still be considered a court. Q: Do You sometimes have an impression that West secretly wishes for the SRS to come to power in Serbia, in order to have a justification for its anti-Serbian policies? VK: The part of the West which is interested in crumbling our state and weakening Serbia in every possible way engages in all sorts of propaganda. The key democratic principle is to allow the citizens themselves to choose their leaders in the elections, by their own free will and without intimidation. West May Get a Very Bad Habit... Q: Are You personally optimistic? Where do You see Serbia in five, ten, fifteen years? VK: The decision of the Western states to recognize the unilateral independence of Kosovo-Metohija must have the adequate response by Serbia. If not, those states might get into habit of thinking about charging on other parts of our country. That is why it is important for us to have a principled policy now and to succeed in defending our state. If we do, then I am optimistic, because all the other countries will regard us with more respect. Serbia deserves a position of a key state in the region and it can achieve that. Recommended: Serbia rejects separation, by Kosovo-Metohija Minister Slobodan Samardzic (Washington Times); The Haradinaj Affair, 2005 article by Nebojsa Malic (AntiWar.com); Coverup on Serbian-Organ Harvesting: 'Pro-American' Kosovo Prime Minister Thaci Oversaw the Scheme, by Julia Gorin (Huffington Post); Former war crimes prosecutor alleges Kosovan army harvested organs from Serb prisoners, by Ian Traynor (Guardian); Serb prisoners 'were stripped of their organs in Kosovo war', by Harry de Quetteville and Malcolm Moore (UK Telegraph); Fort Dix Six Promote Jihad Behind Bars, Fox News (YouTube); Bridging the great divide: Contested Kosovo span is a symbol of international failure, by Scott Taylor (Toronto Sun); What Would Bismarck Do?, by William S. Lind (American Conservative) Posted by BBlog Staff on April 13, 2008 08:06 PM
