Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic

VIENNA, September 12 (Beta) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the State Coordination Center for Kosovo-Metohija Nebojsa Covic stated in Vienna on Wednesday, September 13 that the institutionalization of Yugoslav relations with UNMIK and KFOR, after the Ground Safety Zone pattern, could contribute to rebuilding the trust of Kosovo Serbs.

In an informal meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Covic laid out the Yugoslav position on the upcoming Kosovo elections to representatives of 55 member states.

"It is clear that we can't offer the Serbian national community quick solutions to the problems of missing persons, freedom of movement, security and the return of displaced persons. But what we can do is to institutionalize relations between the FRY, UNMIK and KFOR in Kosovo, in the model of the Ground Safety Zone, since KFOR was and still is the main authority there," Covic told the Yugoslav press.

"In so doing, we are not jeopardizing or questioning UNMIK's authority in Kosovo, but we must show the Serbian national community that no one wants to nor can grant independence to Kosovo-Metohija," he added.

"That's the only way to regain trust and start thinking positively about possible participation in the elections," Covic said, adding that he received the full support of OSCE member state representatives.

The Albanian ambassador to OSCE, however, asked Covic to verify the results he had achieved in southern Serbia. Covic invited the Albanian representative to come to southern Serbia and see for himself the results of the Coordinating Committee's work.

"But I also asked him to enable me to visit northern Albania and see those locations so much talked about," said Covic, who met with OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis in Vienna.