Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic told the Radio S in an interview that Serbia opposed the decision involving Kosovo Police Service taking control over monitoring the border with Albania. Minister Bogdanovic also said that the Government will not give up negotiations with Albanians on resolution of the Kosovo problem.

The KPS is taking over control over the border with Albania. What is your position on this issue?
Our position on this issue is absolutely clear. We oppose the KPS taking over control over the boundaries. We already forwarded our protest to the KFOR. We simply disagree with this decision, same as we disagreed with the decision to handover protection of our historical monuments to the KPS. It is a familiar fact that part of the KPS participated in the 2004 violence, in the demolition and torching of holy sites and in the persecution of Serbs. We will do everything to put a stop to this process.
Military Security Agency on Tuesday said that there are no serious security threats in Kosovo and that KFOR can maintain security. Do you agree with this attitude?
I agree, and I can testify to it because I am often in Kosovo. The KFOR is doing a good job and so far there are no major problems, but that does not mean that they will not surface in the future. Experience teaches us that major escalations can occur, especially if we know that there are large social problems in Kosovo and Metohija. We are now waiting for the decision of the International Court of Justice, and Albanian extremists may try to achieve by force what they cannot peacefully.
Does this mean that you expect riots in Kosovo following the decision by the International Court of Justice, if this decision is in favor of Serbia?
Experience teaches us that whenever it came to questioning the Albanian idea, a non feasible idea, then conflict occurred every time, or they would do something to scare other peoples.
When do you expect the ICJ decision?
We expect the decision sometime in June but some sources indicate that it may be prolonged to October or November. We expect that the decision will be in accordance with the international law. It is clear that there are strong political pressures, both on us and on countries that haven’t recognized independence. I cannot and do not want to believe that the decision would be different than in line with international law. All resolutions passed after 1998 have been violated, particularly the UNSC Resolution 1244. And the ICJ decision is also postponed for the same reason.
Do you expect that perhaps some countries would withdraw their recognition following the ICJ decision?
It is too difficult to give any forecasts on that account. Perhaps it is even illusory to expect that some countries, especially the influential ones, would withdraw the recognition. The ICJ decision would postpone further recognitions, and there are certainly some countries which will reconsider their decision.
There are announcement of negotiations with the Albanians. Who would be on the other side of the table and which is the maximum that Serbia can offer, and a minimum below which it will not budge?
Of course there have to be negotiations with the Albanians. In our contacts with the international community we demand to start these talks as soon as possible. We believe that the international community must continue its presence because the situation is unbearable. Now we have a situation where one side, the Albanians, got everything, while the other, the Serbs lost everything they had. This situation is not bearable in the long run and cannot lead to reconciliation between the two ethnic communities. We want to finally come to a compromise and resolve the status of Kosovo once and for all.
Would you accept a delegation which would also include Hashim Thaci?
We are ready to talk about Kosovo and Metohija with everyone, but do not want to join in the bidding about who would be in the delegation. All relevant political factors in Kosovo may be our interlocutors. We are ready to talk, as our people say, with the black devil himself, in order to come to a solution that would be to the benefit of all citizens of Kosovo. Let me repeat once again, this current situation is unbearable.
The offer would be the highest degree of autonomy?
Exactly. We will continue to wrestle for preservation of Kosovo and Metohija within the Republic of Serbia. We do not want to rule over the Albanians, just as the Serbs do not want to be ruled by the Albanians. In the discussions we had in the 2006 and 2007 we made our views and our principles absolutely clear. However, aided by the international community, the Albanians ignored all that and as a result we had the unilateral declaration of independence. We want a compromise. The compromise is painful, but we must strive for this goal. In a compromise not all can be satisfied.

There are two key things in Resolution 1244. First, that the state of affairs should go back to as it was prior to the 1999 conflict, and secondly that the Serbian forces should return to Kosovo. Will we insist on it?
Of course we respect the Resolution 1244 and insist that it must be respected in its entirety. On the part of Serbia as well as on the part of the international community. We keep emphasizing that the resolution is applied only selectively, i.e. those parts of it that fit the Albanians. This is very dangerous and deadly, and it is this very attitude that has led us to the current situation.
Cypriot model was mentioned as a solution. The Turkish part of Cyprus has not been recognized by any country of the EU, while 22 countries have recognized Kosovo EU. What is the point here?
I'm not sure that the Cypriot model is the proper term. It is a solution in terms of a concept, the admission to the EU. We are interested in fully resolving the status issue. There are many models that can be negotiated ...
Does this mean that we have to wait for Kosovo to join the EU to have our citizens be able to walk the streets of Pristina, just like of Belgrade or Novi Sad?
I think not. We have to do everything to enable all citizens, not only from Serbia but from the entire world to walk freely in Pristina, Urosevac, the whole territory of Serbia. It also has to be a commitment of the international community who took it upon themselves to take care of all citizens. The situation on the ground is completely different. There is no freedom of movement for all citizens. Serbs are still not legally protected, and their property has not been restituted. We on our part are investing huge efforts to achieve these changes. The situation is now a little better than it was 2004 and 2005 but still not good enough to allow the Serbs to go freely to their holy sites, houses and estates.
The plan for the north of Kosovo is often mentioned. Many international institutions, especially the EU, are distancing themselves from this plan. Who then is behind it?
Pieter Feith is in two hats. One is the hat of EU Special Representative, and the other hat is of the International Civilian Representative. Behind one is the Union which does not have the consensus on independence because a number of countries did not recognize independence, and all the while Feith is also in the hat of the countries that have recognized it. The plan itself is unacceptable. To be integrate into a society that is has not done anything for the Serbs to return to their centuries-old homes is a big illusion.
What position is the position of the Serbs? A part has voted in the elections organized by the Pristina, and also we have the upcoming elections in Kosovska Mitrovica on May 30. What do you expect from these elections?
Unfortunately, the division of the Serbian corpus is nothing new. We are doing our best to reduce the divisions to the minimum. We do not want to stick the patriots and the traitors labels. It is in these elections in late May that we expect to confirm the seriousness of the national policy. Serbian institutions do not and can not have alternatives. Not only in the north but in the whole of the province.
Do you think that the Serbs were a bit let down? We have a scandal linked to the Serbian Orthodox Church concerning the embezzling, and there are also complaints as to the misuse of funds by your ministry.

I do not want to comment on the church. As to the Ministry, we do everything transparently. The perception among the citizens that Kosovo is a mecca for money laundering must be stopped. And everyone who was involved in that have to answer for it.

Dusan Mladjenovic