DEP:KOSTUNICA-KOSOVO-STATEMENT KOSTUNICA: FALSE STATE OF KOSOVO DOES NOT EXIST FOR SERBIA
19:13 BELGRADE, Feb 17 (Tanjug) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Sunday, following the unilateral proclamation of the independence of the southern Serbian province in Pristina, that "as long as the Serbian people exist - Kosovo is Serbia" and that "the false state of Kosovo in its territory" created through unprecedented lawlessness does not exist for Serbia and will never exist. Wider excerpts from Prime Minister Kostunica's statement follow: "Today, on February 17, the false state of Kosovo has been illegally proclaimed in that part of the territory of Serbia which is under the military control of NATO. This unprecedented lawlessness is a result of the destructive, crude and immoral policy of force implemented by the United States of America (USA). This action has made it clear to the whole world that America places force above the United Nations (UN) Charter and that it is ready arbitrarily, ruthlessly and flagrantly to violate international order for the sake of its military interests. "Placing violence above the principles of international law, the USA, using blind force, has humiliated and compelled the European Union (EU) to trample the principles on which the EU itself is founded. America has forced Europe to join it in the unprecedented violence it is demonstrating against Serbia. "Europe has today bowed its head and that is why it will also be responsible for all the far-reaching consequences that this violence will have for the European and the world order. This has primarily humiliated the European Union, and not Serbia. Serbia has refused to be humiliated, firmly abiding by the law and refusing to knuckle down before force. "The unilateral proclamation of a false state under auspices of the USA and the EU presents the final act in the policy of force which began with the aggression and senseless bombardment of Serbia and that subsequently continued with the arrival of NATO troops in Kosovo and Metohija. Never before, as today, on February 17, has the truth been more clearly revealed - why Serbia was savagely devastated under NATO bombs," Kostunica said. "We are only too familiar with how dangerous, crude and blind is the policy of force that is being implemented by the USA. But even with that knowledge, Serbia has annulled, with determination and once and for ever, all the decisions on the proclamation of unilateral independence, and all future acts that would stem from this illegal decision. "Serbia has also annulled the EU decision on the illegal sending of a mission to this province, which was also passed due to the impotence of Europe. This decision of the Serbian government determined the foundations of the state and national program of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija following February 17. "Citizens of Serbia, for Serbia there is not and there never will be a false state of an independent Kosovo in its territory. For Serbia, all Serbs and all citizens in the province who respect our state are legal and equal citizens of Serbia. That is why the laws and the institutions of the Republic of Serbia are valid for all of them. "As of today, we must demonstrate even greater concern and solidarity with our people in Kosovo and Metohija. All the ministries have orders to work and secure significantly better living conditions, to secure new jobs and to launch investments in the province. The State of Serbia will take the greatest possible care about every one of its citizens in Kosovo and Metohija. On this day also, our ministers are with their people in the province," the Serbian prime minister said. "Citizens of Serbia, we must demonstrate, together, to the whole world that we are opposed to the fragmenting of our state and that we do not recognize the forcible creating of a false state in our territory. Opposing the policy of violence that is being implemented against Serbia, we must raise our united voices in a sign of support to our fellow nationals and citizens in Kosovo and Metohija. "The government and parliamentary parties will jointly organize peaceful protests throughout Serbia and reach agreement on a date for the first big protest rally that will be held in Belgrade. At these protests, our dignity must be above the force against which we are fighting," Prime Minister Kostunica said. (end) ljm-dg
