Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Serbian premier "astonished" at Kosovo envoy's statement on elections

Excerpt from report by Serbian independent news agency FoNet

Belgrade, 4 October: Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today that a statement made by special UN envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari that the solution of the future status of Kosovo could be delayed because of elections in Serbia was astonishing.

"According to the mandate that the UN Secretary General granted Mr Ahtisaari, Ahtisaari absolutely has no right to deal with issues relating to when a sovereign country will hold elections. He has already encroached upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia beyond his mandate. He has also done so on this occasion," Kostunica told journalists in the Serbian government building.

He went on to say that the Serbian government and all institutions had their agenda.

"That agenda is clear. The assembly has adopted the constitution; the nation should accept the constitution in a referendum. This should then be followed by elections," Kostunica said. [Passage omitted]

Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1228 gmt 4 Oct 06

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