BLIC: [Autonomy] within Serbia?
KOSTUNICA: Within Serbia and the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. That is the compromise. Neither returning to the old solutions, nor independence that would shake the stability of the Balkans.
That would be a kind of union between Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo?
This would mean a high degree of autonomy, which would keep the connection between Pristina and Belgrade within one single state unit. This may sound like an atypical state solution, but after the war and the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, other countries also have atypical state organizations. The first example is Bosnia-Hercegovina, where the concept of entity was introduced in order to explain that Srpska and the Federation are neither federal nor confederal units but something else. The Belgrade agreement [which created the state union of Serbia and Montenegro] also provides for an atypical organization of a state, as does the Ohrid agreement [which gave enhanced minority rights to ethnic Albanians in Macedonia]. We have to solve the question of Kosovo and Metohija in this manner as well.
You rejected an agreement on a union of independent states [proposed by the Montenegrin government]. Will you change your mind?
No, I will not change my mind. The solution has to be sought in the realm of the Constitutional Charter [of the state union]. This will make it possible for talks on independence to begin three years after the state union has been formed, and only with a referendum organized according to clear democratic and international standards. Before that, we have to organize the elections [for the institutions of the state union]. The most important thing is that people will look differently on the whole matter from the moment when we achieve a positive feasibility study [on EU accession]. This is an integral factor of stability, and one step further toward EU support of the state union, which will strongly influence the union's future.
You are rather sure that toward the end of March there will be a positive feasibility study?
In January we already got positive opinion regarding legislation reforms. In cooperation with the Hague tribunal a significant step has been made. The present atmosphere, according to information that we have shall influence further voluntary surrenders of indictees before the end of the month, when we expect the positive feasibility study.
The Hague prosecutor is insisting that [Bosnian Serb General Ratko] Mladic is in Serbia and that he could be in The Hague if there were enough political will.
In the case of General Mladic, constant and credible searches have been conducted and so far we don't have any information that he's in Serbia. We gave solid evidence for these searches, and they will continue... What about generals Pavkovic and Lukic? There are rumors that doctors of the Hague tribunal have examined Lukic?
Minister Ljajic has already spoken on this topic. All details shall be known to the public when the whole matter is brought to an end.
Let us return to the relations with Montenegro. Why don't you suggest to the government officials in Podgorica to immediately call a referendum [on independence]?
The answer to that question has come with the proposal from Podgorica [to transform the current state union of Serbia and Montenegro into a union of independent states]. They don't want elections [for state union bodies], but they don't want a referendum either. They want to find a solution by agreement among the political elites who are at this moment in government in Belgrade and Podgorica. Who can take responsibility for something like that? Government officials change. If one country is breaking apart, then this decision has to stem from the will of people expressed in a referendum. The message coming from the proposed agreement about the transformation of Serbia and Montenegro into a union of independent states is the avoidance of a referendum. It has been proposed that the referendum take place after the break-up, when the sides recognize one another as independent states. If so, why referendum at all? In any case, Serbia favors the preservation of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro, because it seems pointless that we are breaking up when all of Europe is getting together.
How is your relationship with the president of Serbia, [Boris Tadic]? When did you last talk and about what?
The last time we directly spoke was at the reception for Serbia's National Day [15 February]. There is continuous communication between our cabinets. Tadic and I talk every time the opinions of the president of the republic and the prime minister need to be harmonized.
Is there a possibility that the DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia, of which Kostunica is the leader] and the [extremist] Serbian Radical Party [SRS] will form a coalition?
We do not talk about [mere] possibilities; we do not talk about magic, but about things that exist. The DSS is in government with its coalition partners and together we implement government policies. Is the DSS in a coalition with the SRS? No. There were cases when, in the parliament, the DS [opposition Democratic Party of President Tadic] and the Radicals would vote for certain legislative projects of the government, and that's it. There's nothing else...
Serbia still has not got new constitution. Who's to be blamed?
In June last year Government gave its proposal of the constitution based on consensus of various political parties and opinions in Serbia. That proposal, of course, could have undergone changes. Some changes were proposed...
...without result. Who is obstructing adoption of the new constitution?
In the meantime another proposal appeared, made by President Tadic's expert group. People who worked on it, for example professor Grubac, said that there were no significant differences between these two proposals. If there are no differences, I do not know what the problem is.
Is there anything that can be done to bring these two proposals closer?
The positive feasibility study will be motivation for speeding up work on the constitution. That will be one of European Union's requests, since no further integration will be possible without completed constitutional reform in the country.
How often do you regret the fact that you are in a coalition with G17 Plus [of deputy prime minister Miroljub Labus], the SPO, [Serbian Renewal Movement of Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic] and New Serbia?
I don't regret it at all. When we were forming the government we concluded that coalition with DS was not possible having in mind everything that had happened in Serbia in recent years. Just recall the chaos in the parliament, the long period without a president of the republic, complete chaos in the institutions, flagrant cases of corruption... Of course, the responsibility for that falls on the DS, which dominated the coalition government at the time.
But corruption is still present in state institutions.
There is no link between the government and the people from the Belgrade suburbs [of Surcin and Zemun, where notorious mafia gangs were based]. The problem is the large number of organized crime and corruption cases that has accumulated over the years, and it is hard to get rid of those. We need to have good laws, good and brave judges and prosecutors, but that cannot be created overnight. A lot of things have to be changed. I would like that things move ahead more rapidly, but the Government has not been involved in any corruption affair.
What about "Knjaz Milos" affair? After meeting with you Vlade Divac announced setting up a movement for struggle against corruption. He also said that he was not sure about your views on the affair.
My views are very clear. The Government did everything to prevent loss and damage to anybody and all that within the existing legal frame. At one moment "Apurna" was disqualified. We were of the opinion that reasons for disqualification were not just and another chance was given to all sides. I believe that's all there is to it
Political opponents are accusing you of trying to slow down the trial against those suspected of the murder of Prime Minister [Zoran] Djindjic [assassinated in March 2003].
That trial has to be concluded without any distractions and outside interference, and the government is not involved in it in any way. This trial started long before this government was formed. I believe that the court is the [proper] place where we can find out the truth.
Do you care about the truth in connection with charges that BIA [Security Information Agency] Chief Rade Bulatovic given the agency archive to the authorities in Washington?
Government respects law. It would be good for the society that all those participate in public life respect law and codex of their professions. I respect law. I respect truth and facts that can be checked. Law defines BIA activity. It is Government that approves every trip of BIA officials. BIA submits its report to the Government and to the Serbian Parliament. So it is clear who is BIA'a superior. That is the Government and the appropriate Parliamentary Committee.
Do you believe Bulatovic?
I judge government officials on the basis of their work and clear facts and not on the basis of rumors and insinuations. Everybody can accuse anybody. On the other hand, media have to think whether they shall take every statement as relevant and convey it to the public.
Have you read Bulatovic's report from Washington?
I read all relevant reports.