2006 Press Releases

Contact Group Press Statement - Belgrade, April 5-6, 2006

April 06, 2006

The Contact Group met in Belgrade on April 5-6 with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic and the negotiating team for the Kosovo future status process.  The Contact Group reaffirmed its desire to help Serbia overcome the legacy of the disastrous policies of the past.  The Contact Group pledged to support Serbian government efforts to take the steps needed to join European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.  In this regard, the Contact Group urged Belgrade leaders to fulfill their international obligations and turn over Ratko Mladic without delay. 

The Contact Group reaffirmed its wish that all possible efforts be made to achieve a negotiated settlement in the course of 2006 and noted that the final settlement needs, inter alia , to be acceptable to the people of Kosovo.  

The Contact Group also urged Belgrade leaders to engage constructively in the status process to reach realistic solutions, particularly in the discussions regarding decentralization and other measures to guarantee the rights of the Serb community in Kosovo.  Furthermore, the Contact Group restated its commitment to standards implementation, and to this end called upon Belgrade to encourage the full participation of Kosovo Serbs in local institutions of self government.  The Contact Group expressed its deep concern about the recent Coordination Center for Kosovo (CCK) directive regarding Kosovo Serb salaries.

The Contact Group looks forward to working in partnership with the people of Serbia as they fulfill their aspirations for a secure, prosperous and democratic future.