UN ENVOY'S REMARK "JUSTIFIES, REWARDS" VIOLENCE AGAINST KOSOVO SERBS - GOVERNMENT
BBC Monitoring International Reports - August 27, 2006, Sunday

Text of report by Serbian independent news agency FoNet

Belgrade, 27 August: The Serbian government announced today that the most recent terrorist act in the northern [Serb-populated] part of Kosovoska Mitrovica [on Saturday afternoon when a hand grenade was hurled at Dolce Vita Cafe] has shown how Albanian separatists have interpreted a statement by UN Special Envoy [on Kosovo talks] Martti Ahtisaari that Serbs were culpable as a nation.

"If the UN special envoy in talks about the future status of Kosovo can make such a statement, then any form of violence against Serbs is justified and rewarded," the Serbian government said.

The government went on to say that a policy of terror has been carried out against Kosovo Serbs for over seven years in presence of the international community.

"Instead of taking a stand against violence perpetrated by Albanian separatists, the international community is turning a blind eye to it, and at times even giving wings to violence, as in the case of Martti Ahtisaari's remarks," the statement said.

The statement added that the bomb attack on innocent civilians in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica should be the last warning for the international community to preserve peace in this part of Europe with decisive actions through their own documents and in the remit of their responsibilities.

It is finally time, the government's statement concluded, that all of those who are betraying their entrusted mandates to urgently relinquish their posts to principled UN officials, who will protect the Charter, UN values and principles of international law in line with their duty.

Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1248 gmt 27 Aug 06

Copyright 2006 Financial Times Information
All Rights Reserved
Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire
Copyright 2006 BBC Monitoring/BBC Source: Financial Times Information Limited

Posted for Fair Use only.