Interfax's Interview

            "I believe the European Union will not force Serbia to change its principled position on Kosovo in order to join the EU. I do not expect this. But if you suppose hypothetically that this might happen, Serbia will say 'no'," Jeremic said.

            Asked how the possible deployment of an EU police mission in Kosovo without a UN Security Council sanction could affect Serbia's relations with the EU, Jeremic said, "Serbia is not against the EU's presence in this or that form in the entire territory of Serbia, including Kosovo. But we believe that the presence of an EU mission in Kosovo should be sanctioned by the UN Security Council."

            "We are prepared to hold negotiations with the European Union to reach a consensus on a structure that would be acceptable to us and that would be approved by the UN Security Council. A significant number of European states share our position," he said.

            Talking about the settlement of the Kosovo problem, Jeremic said, "Serbia will accept any decision that would not call its sovereignty and territorial integrity into question."

            Belgrade is also willing "to grant as broad powers as possible to Albanians in Kosovo in resolving their internal problems," he said.

            "However, if you want to be realistic, it is extremely important today to take a number of tactical steps that would have strategic implications," Jeremic said.

            In particular, the minister mentioned among such measures hampering Kosovo's accession to any international organization and working so that as few countries as possible recognize Kosovo's independence.

            "We are seeking to have the very idea of Kosovo's independence proven stillborn," he said.

            "And when everybody sees that Kosovo failed to gain real and practical confirmation of its independence in a violent way, then the need will arise to return to the negotiating table," he said.

            "We need to be very patient, principled, and vigilant today. This is the only way for us to attain the desired result," he said.

            Belgrade expects the people responsible for crimes described in a book by Carla Del Ponte, a former prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), will be found and brought to justice, also said Jeremic.

            "This book [entitled The Hunt: I and War Criminals] makes horrible accusations. We are expecting now that some light will be shed on this story," Jeremic said.

            "The way the Hague Tribunal has been working lately prompts a lot of questions and causes mistrust," Jeremic said.

            He, however, suggested that "all the trials should be brought to an end as soon as possible."

            "Not so many cases are left to be considered by the court," he added.

            Several people who will have to defend themselves at the ICTY are still at large, Jeremic said. "I hope this will soon end and become part of the past," he said.

            Carla Del Ponte alleged in her book, which was published in spring 2008, that about 300 young Serbs and other non-Albanians were abducted in 1999 by leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army and transferred to Albania, where their organs were extracted to be sold in foreign countries. Hashim Thaci, the current prime minister of Kosovo, figures in the book in connection with these alleged crimes.

            Serbia will continue to insist on the extradition of Mirjana Markovic, the widow of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, and his son, Marko, who are currently living in Russia, Serbian Foreign Minister also said.

            "Certain members of Slobodan Milosevic's family need to answer to the charges brought against them by a Serbian court. Demanding third countries where the suspects are living that they extradite them is quite a natural and appropriate procedure," Jeremic said.

            He acknowledged that Mirjana Markovic's and Marko Milosevic's lawyers succeeded in having some charges initially brought against them dropped, but "other charges remain in force," he said.

            The Russian Federal Migration Service had said in February that Russia did not have reasons to extradite the former Yugoslav leader's widow and son.

            "Any state can request their extradition, but Russia does not have reasons to extradite them, and this is based on international conventions and agreements. We won't extradite them. They have been granted refugee status in Russia," Federal Migration Service spokesman Konstantin Poltoranin said.

            It was the Serbian Justice Ministry that had originally demanded Mirjana Markovic's and Marko Milosevic's extradition.

            According to the Russian Federal Migration Service, Mirjana Markovic and Marko Milosevic had been granted refugee status in Russia in March 2006.

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