Serbian president and FM commenting on Kosovo

Описание: (18 Apr 2007) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Danube European conference
2. Wide of European delegates at meeting
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Boris Tadic, Serbian President:
"When I say that Serbia will never accept the independence of Kosovo i Metohija (the Serbian name for Kosovo), it also means that Serbia will never give up on Europe. I say that Serbia believes in the better principles of Europe, one of which is the power to embrace the future that comes through real reconciliation. And no such reconciliation can occur if we do not arrive at a real compromise over the future status of our province."
4. Wide of meeting
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vuk Draskovic, Serbian Foreign Minister:
"Of course I believe that Washington cannot do this because Washington, the United States of America, are all blind. Also to respect fully (the) international order, to respect the charter of the United Nations and the institutions of the United Nations. Finally, I think one of the fundamentals of the USA is the principle (that) right is stronger than might. I believe the United States of America will respect fully the decisions of the (UN) Security Council and regardless of (the US) using maybe the might to opt for independence, but finally they will, they will, they must respect the Security Council's decision. I hope (the idea of Kosovos's) independence will not be adopted by the Security Council."
6. Wide of meeting
STORYLINE
The Serbian government said on Wednesday it will never accept independence for Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo.
Speaking at the Danube European conference in Belgrade, Serbian president Boris Tadic said Serbia's stance against an independent Kosovo "also means that Serbia will never give up on Europe."
Tadic stressed that a solution for Kosovo can only be achieved through compromise and reconciliation.
"The power to embrace the future that comes through real reconciliation. And no such reconciliation can occur if we do not arrive at a real compromise over the future status of our province," Tadic said.
Serbia has been seeking support from Russia and China in its bid to keep Kosovo within its borders.
The Serbian government said on Wednesday it had received support from a senior Chinese official for its opposition to a UN plan that would give independence to Kosovo.
Russia has already expressed support for the Serb position on Kosovo, which has been a UN protectorate since 1999.
The province's majority ethnic Albanians have been seeking independence, but Belgrade wants to retain at least formal
control over the area.
Belgrade has suggested it relies on Russian and Chinese veto at the UN Security Council, which will have the final say on the UN plan that proposes internationally supervised statehood for the province.
But US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said the United States considers independence the only option for Kosovo and has suggested that the US may recognise Kosovo's split from Serbia, even if Russia carries out its threat to veto the UN plan when it comes to a vote at the Security Council.
Commenting on Burn's statements, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic said that in order to respect the United Nations Charter the US cannot support an independent Kosovo unless it is recognised by the Security Council.
"They must respect the security council's decision. I hope (the idea of Kosovo's) independence will not be adopted by the Security Council," Draskovic told delegates at the conference.

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