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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Resolution on Kosovo and Metohija

Pursuant to the Declaration of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia dated 27th August 2003, and the obligation of the Republic of Serbia as a member state of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro to give its full contribution to the due implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10th June 1999, the Military-technical Agreement on Kosovo and Metohia of 9th June 1999, and the Joint Document on cooperation between FR Yugoslavia and UNMIK of 5th November 2001,

and in accordance with Article 73, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, and based on Article 130 of the Rules of Procedure of the Republic of Serbia ("The Official gazette of Republic of Serbia, Nr. 32/02 – amended text, 57/03, 12/04 and 29/04),
The National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, at the fifth sitting of the First Regular session for the year 2004, held on 26th march 2004, has adopted the

R E S O L U T I O N
OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA ON KOSOVO AND METOHIA

Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia, and their property, the Serbian sacred sites in the Province, the whole of Serbia and the state union of Serbia and Montenegro are, once again exposed to massive and organized violence of Albanian separatists and terrorists.

Starting from the necessity that the Serb people, all citizens and state institutions should engage towards the protection of the highest national and state interests, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, as the supreme representative body of the citizens of Serbia, adopts the following positions and requests:
1) The pogrom against the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohia from 17th to 19th March this year, is a consequence of lack of readiness on the part of UNMIK and KFOR to exercise their obligations under UN SC Resolution 1244. SB UN. This is a direct result of the transfer of competences from the international administration to the provisional institutions in Kosovo.
2) The Albanian population, even after the arrival of the civilian and military mission in June 1999, acted with animosity to the Serb population, demonstrated through a huge number of murders, fires and continued threats directed at forced exile from the Province. It is therefore certain that the events of 17th to 19th March are not a surprise, and the responsibility of the international peace-keeping and security forces is therefore the greater.
3) Along with increased and improved organization of the international security forces, we request from the international community to undertake a decisive investigation of committed crimes and to punish the perpetrators of organized violence. We also request immediate reconstruction of houses, churches and monasteries, so that life may continue in them and so that Albanian terrorists are clearly persuaded of the futility of their plan.
4) The most recent organized violence of Albanians against Serbs, representing ethnic cleansing and a threat to the stability of the region as a whole, point, beyond doubt, to the conclusion that it is necessary to reconsider and change the overall UN policy in the Province.
5) In doing so, it is necessary to respect the principles of international law, primarily the principle of integrity of borders, as well as the UN SC Resolution 1244.
6) The Government of the republic of Serbia is given the responsibility to prepare a proposal for a political solution of the present situation in Kosovo and Metohia. This proposal must be founded on the following principles:
a) Kosovo and Metohia is an inalienable part of Serbia and the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.
b) Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia must receive new institutional guarantees for their position and a better protection of their rights.
v) Serbia must ensure the survival, security and return of Kosovo Serbs.
7) Our state is obliged, both under its law, and under international conventions, to protect cultural-historical monuments and religious buildings in the Province. The burning of Serbian churches and monasteries during the most recent wave of violence once again showed the striving of Albanian terrorists and separatists to change the historical-cultural picture of Kosovo and Metohia. It is therefore necessary, along with the proposal for a political solution, to determine efficient ways of protection, some of which are included in the UN SC Resolution 1244.

This Resolution is submitted to our citizens, relevant institutions and the whole international community from whom we expect understanding and a response that is required for international combat against terrorism.

RS number 26
In Belgrade, this 26th March 2004.
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
PRESIDENT

Predrag Markovic