Belgrade: The Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said yesterday that he was convinced that the policy towards Kosovo after formation of a new government would be one of continuity. He added that he did not expect a single aspect of that policy to change.

Jeremic explained, “We have got nothing against EU participation in the international civil mission in Kosovo, indeed, we think that it should have an important role.”

“In order for that participation to be legal, a Security Council resolution is essential, since only it has the mandate to change the international civil presence stipulated by Resolution 1244. We are willing to talk and cooperate with all the interested parties in that process, but the final outcome needs to be confirmed by the Security Council,” said the foreign minister.

Jeremic added that Serbia was ready to discuss all the options as long as they did not cross, as he put it, Serbia’s explicit red lines: preservation of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and adequate protection of the non-Albanian population in Kosovo.

He pointed out that the caretaker government did not have the power to propose new initiatives, and could only pursue the policies defined prior to assuming caretaker status.

The foreign minister said, “Right now our main priority is to form a government. After that, we’ll be ready to talk to all the parties involved to find a compromise solution.”