Presenting the Resolution Proposal, the representative of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Zarko Obradovic and advisor to the President of the Republic of Serbia Marko Djuric, stressed that this is a key political document defining Serbia’s official position in the negotiating process and urged the MPs to endorse the proposed document at the National Assembly’s extraordinary session.

In the debate, the Committee members belonging to opposition parties criticised the Resolution Proposal which they declared unconstitutional, unclear and not in compliance with the Serb’s interests in Kosovo. They also said that the proposed text of the resolution on Kosovo points to a discrepancy between the Government and the Serbian President and is an attempt to reach a compromise which has resulted in a contradictory text. Responding to the criticisms, Minister Obradovic said that the Government and the President of the Republic are of one mind and the resolution establishes a unified state policy toward Kosovo.

The Committee members from the Democratic Party and Democratic Party of Serbia announced that they would submit amendments and, depending on whether they are accepted, would decide whether they would vote for the resolution or not, while the MPs from the Liberal Democratic Party announced that they would vote against the resolution.

Following the debate in principle, the Committee decided, with eight votes in favour and four abstained, to propose that the National Assembly should accept the Resolution of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on Basic Principles for Political Talks with Interim Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo-Metohija.

The sitting was chaired by Milovan Drecun, Committee Chairman.