YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTRY CONCERNED OVER KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE STATEMENT

Belgrade, 14 February: The Foreign Ministry of Serbia and Montenegro has expressed deep concern over a joint statement by the floor groups of three Kosovo Albanian parties in support of their initiative for an independent Kosovo, adopted in the Kosovo parliament on Thursday 13 February .

It is particularly surprising that this statement was adopted just days after a UN Security Council session, the ministry said, when the Council adopted a presidential statement strongly rejecting unilateral initiatives which run contrary to Security Council Resolution 1244, and which could jeopardize stability and the process of normalization not only in Kosovo, but in the entire region. The ministry pointed out that the permanent representative of Serbia and Montenegro to the UN had spoken at the recent session, cautioning against these developments and asking that the Security Council react resolutely to the initiative by a group of Kosovo parliament MPs on the province's independence.

It is necessary that the international community react to such examples of flagrant violations of Resolution 1244 and that the Security Council take an active stand on the situation in Kosovo by constantly following it in a comprehensive and fundamental manner, and reacting timely in keeping with its mandate stemming from Resolution 1244, and resolutely oppose any and all activities which are aimed at the independence of Kosovo.

Serbia and Montenegro on this occasion once again expressed absolute support for Security Council Resolution 1244 and urged its full implementation, the ministry statement said.

Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1642 gmt 14 Feb 03
BBC Monitoring Service