http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=46592
Parliament must take stance on Ban Ki-moon’s proposal
Belgrade, June 13, 2008 – Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said
today that if the Serbian President is of the opinion that the caretaker
government does not have the authority to make a decision regarding the
proposal presented by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to legitimise the
illegal EULEX mission, then according to the Constitution the Serbian
parliament must immediately take a stance regarding this initiative.
The Serbian government’s website presents the Prime Minister’s statement
in full.
“UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has presented a proposal to give
legitimacy to the illegal EULEX mission, which aims to implement
Ahtisaari’s rejected plan.
A letter from the UN Secretary General addressed to the Serbian
President has also arrived in Belgrade, regarding this initiative.
Considering the fact that the Serbian President has no constitutional
authority to manage the country’s interior and foreign policies, Foreign
Minister Vuk Jeremic and Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic
attempted to reach agreement on a joint response which would be in the
best interest of our country.
The Serbian President disregarded this joint recommendation and
responded to Ban Ki-moon’s proposal on his own initiative, thus
exceeding his constitutional authorities.
Of particular importance is the fact that ministers in the caretaker
government from the Democratic Party of Serbia and New Serbia do not
stand behind the contents of the Serbian President’s letter, because the
letter does not state that according to Security Council Resolution
1244, the EULEX mission cannot be legalised.
If the Serbian President is of the opinion that the caretaker government
does not have the authority to make a decision regarding this matter,
then in accordance with the Constitution the Serbian parliament must
immediately take a stance regarding the proposal presented by the UN
Secretary General to legalise the EULEX mission.
Under no circumstances does the Serbian President have the authority to
manage the foreign and interior policies of the country,” concludes the
statement.
