Excerpt from report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 22 May
[Announcer] Here is an exclusive interview with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic by our special reporter Gjeraqina Tuhina in Podgorica.
[Reporter] You said that yesterday's referendum brought about the definitive disintegration of Yugoslavia. Has this disintegration been fulfilled when the Kosova [Kosovo] issue is still at hand and some voices from Vojvodina that yesterday's referendum proves that none of the people from former Yugoslavia want to live with the Serbs?
[Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic in Serbian with Albanian voiceover] I believe that the process of disintegration has fully ended. As you know, in the late 1990s we had the proposal from EU and the Badinter Commission to overcome the crisis in such a way, however the recommendations unfortunately at the time were not accepted. Four former Yugoslav republics became independent while Serbia and Montenegro remained in the union; however, time showed that this only served the former Belgrade regime's expansionist aspirations toward territories in former Yugoslav republics. Now, 15 years late, with precious time lost, I can proudly say that the process in the Balkans has reached its logical epilogue. I believe that we have sound and friendly relations with all our neighbours from former Yugoslavia, something that will bring us closer to Europe.
The issue of Kosova was not dealt with by the Badinter Commission, but everything that happened in the last decade, including the genocide which brought NATO intervention, has given a truly important dimension to this problem. It is my belief that after 1999 we had great stagnation regarding this problem with unfound statements. We now have UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and we can have a calm and sound approach for the future of Kosova. Luckily the consciousness in the region is maturer and Kosova will have its respective solution. The negotiating process between Prishtina [Pristina] and Belgrade has already started with the participation of the international community headed by Martti Ahtisaari.
What I would like to stress is that Kosova should get its status resolved before the end of 2006, because I consider this important for the future dynamics for processes in the region. I would not like to hastily say what Kosova's status should be. The engagement of the international community should not be misunderstood either by Belgrade or Prishtina. What I would like to stress is that we want this process to end with a sustainable solution and it would be the best solution if an agreement were to be reached between Prishtina and Belgrade. This region needs such a solution and it is in the best interest of the region that this solution be found before the end of the year. [Passage omitted]
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 22 May 06
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4 comments:
Kosovo will get indepedence very near future. In your logic then Preshevo valley should get autonomy or even independence. THen you've got Sanxhak to worryy about then Vojvodina. Serbia is really a tiny country.
No Belgrade will not interfere with this - apart from insisting that the referedum was fair and waiting for the official final result.
It would be foolish for Serbs in Montenegro to campaign for independence since this will open many more issues as ron mentioned. Issues of autonomy not just in Serbia but it would reflect accross the region too.
Seperate them yes give us preshevo valley
I havent forgotten how Yugoslavia's collapse began - with the boycott of Slovenian goods advocated by Serbian politicians.
Soon after Slovenia withdrew from federally funded institutions citing the boycoot as justification.
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