SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS KOSOVO'S THACI FREE TO VISIT BELGRADE AS GUEST
Beta - July 11, 2003

Belgrade, 11 July: Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic stated today that Hashim Thaci, leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, would not be arrested in Belgrade if relevant state bodies granted him the status of a guest.

Speaking at a news conference as chairman of the Serbian Liberals, Mihajlovic said that Justice Minister Vladan Batic was right to say that Thaci would be arrested if he were to come to Belgrade, stressing however that the situation could be different if he were a guest in Serbia. "No country arrests its guests," Mihajlovic said, adding that Thaci could be given the status of a guest only on the basis of a decision by relevant state bodies.

Thaci has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Belgrade. Batic stated recently that the appointment of a special war crimes prosecutor would, among other things, make it possible to try Thaci in absentia for the criminal act of genocide.

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1235 gmt 11 Jul 03

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