THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF SERBIA

Considering that

the situation in Kosovo and Metohija is worsening by the day, with unforseeable consequences,

Albanians in Kosovo do not want to abandon the idea of independence,

the regime in Belgrade perpetuates a fifty-year-old communist policy and shows no intention of changing the current situation,

there are parallel systems of government in Kosovo and Metohija and that Serbian authorities do not control some parts of the province,

there is a realistic danger of further internationalization of the Kosovo problem and its resolution not only without Serbs, but also against them,

the current situation is equally beneficial for the authorities in Belgrade and the authorities of the self-proclaimed "Republic of Kosovo",

the remaining Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are hastily leaving the province, and particularly that

the preservation of Serbia's territorial integrity is a vital precondition for the survival of the entire Serbian nation which cannot be met without a proper solution for the Kosovo problem.

The Democratic Party of Serbia
adopts the following

DECLARATION ON KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

whereby it

points out that the problem of Kosovo and Metohija seriously undermines stability in the Balkans and gives rise to various forms of international intervention;

believes that the Kosovo problem is too complex and should, therefore, not be subject of irresponsible rivalry between Serbian political parties which offer no solution and which, in order to meet their selfish party goals, threaten to seriously undermine Serbian national interests;

supports in principle the Proposal for a democratic solution of Kosovo-Metohija question worked out by a team of experts composed of representatives of political parties which took part in the all- Serbian dialogue about Kosovo and Metohija, because the proposal is in accordance with the basic programme orientation of the Democratic Party of Serbia concerning the regionalization of Serbia;

rejects the idea of constituting Serbia as a federation because this could only encourage separatist aspirations of Kosovo Albanians, undermine Serbia's territorial integrity and lead to its subsequent disintegration;

refuses to accept the idea of territorial autonomy which would be introduced for the sake of Kosovo Albanians because such a solution would be unnatural and would basically confine Albanians to a ghetto and isolation, which certainly runs contrary both to their interests and international standards;

is convinced that the unitaristic concept for Serbia is a serious obstacle to democracy and would vitally threaten the right of Serbian citizens to use different forms of regional and local government for participating in political decision making, as well as hamper economic development;

insists on agreement between all relevant political protagonists in Serbia, including Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija which would be a starting platform for discussions with representatives of Kosovo Albanians;

believes that its is high time to start Serbian-Albanian talks without international mediation immediately after a consensus is reached on Serbian national interests;

underlines that, following an agreement between the Serbian and Albanian sides it would be necessary to call parliamentary, regional and local elections and amend the Serbian Constitution accordingly;

and

stresses that, according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, each republic (federal unit) is independent in organizing its republican and local governments, implying that the settlement of the Kosovo problem through regionalization falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Republic of Serbia.

Belgrade, 28 January 1998.