The Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Predrag Markovic, had, at the request of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, convened the First Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly for 12 noon on Monday 27 February.

The following agenda had been set by the Government for the sitting:

- Report on the Course of Negotiations on a Political Solution for the Future Status of Kosovo and Metohia.

The National Assembly sitting was attended by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, the Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, and cabinet ministers.

At the start of the debate, the National Assembly was addressed by Mr Kostunica, who reiterated that this, the first negotiations progress report, was being presented to the Assembly three months after the adoption of the Resolution on the Mandate for Political Negotiations on the Future Status of Kosovo and Metohia. He underlined that this was an opportunity to consider past events and exchange views on tasks facing Serbia in resolving its most crucial state and national issue.

Mr Kostunica informed the deputies of the course of the negotiations so far, and stressed that the Serbian side was offering a historic compromise solution, lying as it does between independence and ‘conventional’ autonomy based on European models. The solution offered was substantially widened autonomy, which Serbia was ready to define completely in direct negotiations with Kosovo Albanian representatives. ‘There is only one thing that we cannot, and must not, do: let another state be created within the borders of our country that will break away a part of our territory, and take with it into an abyss international law, human rights, fundamental principles of law, morality, cultural heritage, spiritual fatherland, property, and much else that forms the basis of our identity, both historical and modern,’ the Prime Minister said, adding that the Assembly was ‘today again confirming that Serbia stands for compromise, for a just solution, for respect for generally accepted principles, and adherence to universal values.’

‘By undertaking, together, not to back away from these principles, we obtain irrefutable arguments, based on law, justice, and truth; our unity and these values are the strongest bulwark that Serbia today has at its disposal,’ concluded Mr Kostunica.

After the deputies were addressed by co-ordinators of the national negotiating team, Leon Kojen and Slobodan Samardzic, the National Assembly discussed the Report for the rest of the day’s session.

Addressing the Assembly after the discussion ended, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, said that he fully backed the sentiments expressed by the negotiating team, the Prime Minister, and the Deputy Prime Minister, and reiterated that he had conveyed to the UN Security Council the harmonised position of the Serbian side; these views, he went on to say, were a reflection of Serbia’s legitimate interests, and would have to be defended every day, and with full responsibility.

The Chairman, Predrag Markovic, convened a Voting Day sitting immediately after discussion ended. At the Voting Day sitting the National Assembly unanimously adopted the Decision Endorsing the Report on the Course of Negotiations on a Political Solution for the Future Status of Kosovo and Metohia.

Before commencing discussion, the National Assembly had noted that the mandate of deputy Djordje Cukvas had terminated before the expiry of the term he had been elected to due to his resignation. At the start of the afternoon part of the day’s session, the National Assembly confirmed the mandate of deputy Borko Ilic, elected from the Democratic Party of Serbia – Vojislav Kostunica electoral list.

As the National Assembly had finished discussing the only item on the agenda, Mr Markovic concluded the First Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2006.