Taking part in the panel discussion on the future of the international presence in Kosovo-Metohija, MP Dragan Sormaz stressed that the solution to the issue of Kosovo-Metohija’s status should be grounded in the principles of international law and that any recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija is a dangerous precedent leading to a long-term threat to the stability in the region and more. He reminded that Kosovo-Metohija is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia and that the majority of UN member states have abstained from the unilaterally declared independence. He also stressed the importance of continuing direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina at the highest political level, restating that Serbia cannot, under any conditions, recognise the unilaterally declared independence, nor negotiate on the implementation of the independence of the so-called state of Kosovo. As regards the possible reduction of the number of KFOR members, MP Sormaz appealed to the parliamentarians of the states who have representatives among the KFOR forces not to lessen their presence in Kosovo-Metohija. He expressed readiness to, if there is need and mutual agreement, include members of the armed forces of the Republic of Serbia among the security forces in Kosovo-Metohija, compliant to UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Military-Technical Agreement, so as to protect the cultural monuments of the Serbian people.
MP Miroslav Petkovic reminded that Kosovo-Metohija is the cradle of the Serbian statehood and the Serbian Orthodox Church. He pointed out the high rates of organised crime and drug trafficking in Kosovo-Metohija and reminded that the Kosovo-Metohija side refused to talk about the broadest possible autonomy offered, restating that the struggle to maintain the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia would continue.
In the course of the panel discussion, it was mentioned that 200,000 Serbs and other non-Albanian population have escaped from Kosovo-Metohija, most of whom never returned due to the absence of adequate safety measures for their return. The members of the Bosnian, Italian, Russian and Spanish delegation voiced their positions on the issue which were compliant with the position of the Serbian delegation.
The National Assembly’s delegation to the 81st Rose-Roth Seminar comprised the Head of the delegation, Igor Becic and delegation members Dragan Sormaz and Miroslav Petkovic.