Dacic, Dodik: Serbia is guarantor of entire BiH

BANJA LUKA, June 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Republika Srpska (RS) Prime Minister Milorad Dodik stated in Banja Luka on Sunday that, as a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement, Serbia is not only a guarantor of RS but rather of the entire Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), and pointed out that Serbia-RS cooperation based on the Special Parallel Relations Agreement is efficient.

"As a guarantor of the Dayton Agreement, Serbia is not only a guarantor of RS but rather of the entire BiH," Dacic said after the talks with Dodik, and stressed that Serbia is in favor of peace and stability in BiH, adding that constitutional changes in BiH must be the result of an agreement between two entities and three peoples.

Dodik assessed that "Serbia is an important factor in the political and every other sense," and that it has managed to restore its role of guarantor of the Dayton Peace Accords for the entire BiH.

As Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader, Dacic attended the official session of the Socialist Party of the Republika Srpska in Banja Luka.

Dodik, who is the leader of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, stated at the session that, as long as RS exists, it will not recognize the independence of Kosovo-Metohija.

Dodik and Dacic pointed out that Serbia and RS's interior ministries have excellent mutual cooperation in the fight against organized crime, as well as with other security structures in the region.

Talks between Dodik and Dacic were attended by Serbian Education Minister Zarko Obradovic and RS Interior Minister Stanislav Cadjo.

ICJ's opinion should take into account need for negotiations

BELGRADE, June 20 (Tanjug) - Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim expressed his hope in Belgrade on Sunday that the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Kosovo-Metohija will take into account the need for negotiations, in accordance with the resolution of the UN Security Council.

I assume that the issue of Kosovo will be returned to the UN General Assembly, where the request for the ICJ to consider the case had come from, after which there should be a discussion and we will see what the outcome will be, Amorim assessed in a statement for Tanjug.

He pointed out that Brazil is very concerned when it comes to the issues of the countries' territorial integrity, which is also envisaged by the resolution of the UN Security Council.

Amorim reiterated that Brazil protected Serbia's territorial integrity, as well as the right of Kosovo citizens to essential autonomy within a completely democratic state.

Sutanovac and Amorim on bilateral military cooperation

BELGRADE, June 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim in Belgrade Sunday to discuss bilateral military cooperation.

Sutanovac and Amorim concluded that the high level of political relations between the two countries deserves a cooperation between their respective defense ministries and militaries.

Sutanovac thanked Amorim on his country's principled stance and support regarding the defining of the future status of the southern Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija.

Amorim supported the reforms being carried out in Serbia's defense system and stressed their significance for the country's overall reform efforts, the Serbian Defense Ministry announced on their website.

Tadic and Amorim discuss Brazil's support and cooperation

BELGRADE, June 20 (Tanjug) - During his one-day visit to Belgrade on Sunday, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim met with Serbian President Boris Tadic, who thanked the Brazilian official on his country's principled support to the preservation of Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tadic and Amorim discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and improvement of economic cooperation, the Serbian president's press service released in a statement.

Amorim is the first Brazilian foreign minister to pay an official visit to Belgrade.

Brazil has not recognized Kosovo-Metohija's unilateral declaration of independence, observing the rule of international law and the decisions of the UN Security Council.

Jeremic thanks Amorim on support regarding Kosovo issue

BELGRADE, June 20 (Tanjug) - Serbian and Brazilian Foreign Ministers, Vuk Jeremic and Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim respectively, stated in Belgrade on Sunday that they are satisfied with the good and friendly relations between the two countries, and Jeremic thanked his Brazilian counterpart on "principled support when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, which is Serbia's most important foreign policy issue."

The two ministers signed two agreements on Sunday - on the abolishment of visas for diplomatic and official passports and abolishment of visas for Brazilian and Serbian citizens, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations at various levels of cooperation.

At a news conference, Amorim said that he is very pleased to visit Belgrade, which is one of the most important European cities, while Jeremic said that "cooperating with Brazil is a privilege in every respect."

We also discussed cooperation in the area of business, defense and administration, and we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations, which will certainly contribute to the continuance of the dialogue which myself and minister Jeremic have begun a while ago, Amorim said.

Jeremic stressed that he talked with Amorim about strengthening bilateral relations in all areas, particularly in the area of economy, adding that he arranged a visit of the Serbian business delegation to Brazil.

"We will also pay special attention to cooperation in the areas of culture, sports and defense," Jeremic underscored.

Amorim: Brazil's active support to Serbia before ICJ

BELGRADE, June 20 (Tanjug) - Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim told Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic on Sunday that Brazil will keep providing active support to Serbia's diplomatic initiative before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Cvetkovic thanked Amorim on Brazil's principled stance in the defense of the principles of international law when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija.

Cvetkovic pointed out that Brazil and Serbia have traditionally had good and friendly bilateral relations, the Serbian government released in a statement.

The officials agreed that, so far, the economic cooperation between the two countries has been below their possibilities and expressed interest in improving cooperation, particularly in the area of agriculture and infrastructure.

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