CZECH REPUBLIC: Serbian President Boris Tadic meets with Czech President Vaclav Klaus in Prague during his official visit of Czech Republic

Serbian President Boris Tadic, who is paying official visit to the Czech Republic, met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus at Prague Castle. Presidents discussed bilateral relations, EU issues as well as the situation in Kosovo. Kosovo wants independence, but Russia has blocked a U.N. resolution which would have given sovereignty under European Union supervision. Russia, a veto holder at United Nations Security Council and traditional ally of Serbia, says it will not support any solution that Belgrade does not agree to. Serbia only wants to give Kosovo autonomy under Serbia rather than full independence. "Concerning Kosovo, the Serbian position is clear. We want to exclude any kind of violence," said Serbian President Boris Tadic druning his visit to the Czech Republic on Miday (September 17) "...violence would only lead to catastrophe in Kosovo, Albania, the Balkan states, for Europe, United States and Russia as well." Kosovo is ready to offer Serbia a treaty guaranteeing cordial relations after the breakaway province becomes independent, Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders said on Monday. The treaty will be presented on Wednesday in London to the international "troika" of envoys from the United States, the European Union and Russia who are mediating talks on Kosovo's future status. Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs drove out Serb forces accused of atrocities in a two-year war with ethnic Albanian separatist guerrillas.

ITN Source | September 17, 2007

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