Serbia supports peaceful compromise for Kosovo

Visiting Serbian President Boris Tadic expressed support on Tuesday for a peaceful compromise on Kosovo, warning that a possible independence of Kosovo could destabilize the Balkan states.

At a joint press conference with Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou after talks, Tadic said Kosovo is part of Serbia and Montenegro in accordance with UN Resolution 1244 and international law.

The president said Serbia recognizes the rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo but also supports the rights of Serbs and Serbia.

"Serbia supports a solution which will work for everybody living in Kosovo and a peaceful compromise and by supporting this right, Serbia supports the stability of the whole region," he added, noting that "possible independence of Kosovo could destabilize all the Balkans states."

"A solution of the problem will be achieved through the ongoing talks," Tadic told the press, saying that "Serbia favors a solution that will work for all living in Kosovo."

On his part, Iacovou recalled the 2003 European Council

conclusions in Thessalonica, Greece, the countries of the eastern Balkans have a European future, saying that Cyprus firmly supports the policy.

The Kosovo province has been a de facto U.N. protectorate since the end of the 1998-99 war there between ethnic Albanian separatists and Serb forces.

Ethnic Albanians, who comprise about 90 percent of the province 's population of 2 million, want independence but Serbs claim the province as the cradle of their culture and want Belgrade to retain its overall control.

Tadic had separate talks with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and House President Demetris Christofias during his official visit to Cyprus.

They discussed issues on the Cyprus problem, Serbia's European perspective and the referendum in Montenegro regarding its position in the union with Serbia.

Source: Xinhua

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