SERBIA'S DRASKOVIC CLAIMS TO HAVE WON US SUPPORT FOR CANTONIZATION OF KOSOVO
Beta - February 12, 2004

Belgrade, 12 February: Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) leader Vuk Draskovic has said that his proposal for Kosovo's cantonization has won the support of Washington.

"Serbia must support the struggle against global terrorism. A part of this agreement must be the cantonization of Kosovo-Metohija, Serbs' return to Kosovo, and the return of our troops, as part of the allied forces, to our territory," Draskovic told Beta.

The SPO leader, who attended the Prayer Breakfast in Washington in early February, said he had outlined his concept in the White House, the State Department, the Senate, the Congress and the National Security Council. As he said, the concept was received with great interest.

According to Draskovic, his partners in the talks conveyed surprise that Serbian state policy had failed to mention to date such a concept as a possible solution for the problems in Kosovo.

"There has been no state strategy so far and I believe that this concept stands a big chance of being accepted. I am more than optimistic, and I am not speaking off the cuff, that we could reach this arrangement quickly and easily," the SPO leader said.

Draskovic further said he had been told "everywhere in the United States" that the United States would never abandon, unless the forces hostile to the United States came to power in Serbia, its position on the Serbs' and Serbia's historic right to Kosovo-Metohija.

Asked whether he was outlining future foreign policy in his capacity as candidate for foreign minister, Draskovic replied that he was speaking about Serbian policy generally. (Passage omitted)

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 0957 gmt 12 Feb 04

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