Serbian Prime Minister Says Kosovo Will Always Be Part Of Serbia
Hector Duarte Jr. - All Headline News Staff Reporter Serbia (AHN) - Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, says Kosovo will always be part of Serbia, during a visit to the ethnically-divided province. Speaking to a crowd of local Serbs, he said Belgrade would guarantee their interests in UN-brokered talks on Kosovo's future. According to press reports, Mr. Kostunica said, "No one is on firmer, truer ground in the talks on Kosovo's final status than Serbia. Security was tight for the visit, which marks the anniversary of a 14th Century battle, in which the army of Serbia's Christian Prince Lazar was defeated by Ottoman invaders. Traditional Serbs hold the defeat at Kosovo Polje as a critical moment in the history of their faith. Rougly 1,000 Serbs gathered at an Orthodox Christian monastery in Gracanica to welcome Mr Kostunica on Wednesday. As the crowd, cheered him on, Kostunica said, "There is no better place to repeat what all Serbs should know - that Kosovo always was and always will be part of Serbia." He assured the audience Belgrade would reject any attempt to pull Kosovo away from Serbia during negotiations. As a Nato helicopter toured overheard, Mr. Kostunica took a short walk around the stone courtyard of the monastery, accompanied by priests and a brass band. Over 100 protesters were arrested during clashes with police. Although it is technically still part of Ser |
