Belgrade, September 14, 2001 - An official decision on resumption of classes of University at Pristina has not yet been brought, says Serbian Education Minister Gaso Knezevic.

"Not even UNMIK can guarantee security conditions and therefore I myself will not sign such decision," Serbian Education Minister Gaso Knezevic said for RTS state television.

He said he would do his best to protect the students and would not let this issue be misused for political purposes.

Knezevic backed Pristina University students who demanded that the decision on the 1999/2000 school year, by which Kosovo students are prohibited from transferring to any other university in the country, be annulled.

However, the students' demand that Pristina University rector Gojko Savic should be relieved of duty was rejected.

Commenting on the reintroduction of religious instruction in schools, Knezevic said that it would be an optional subject, and students would be obliged to attend these classes for only one year. If students change their mind, they could change their optional subject - instead of religious instruction they can switch to classes in civics, and vice versa, he explained.

Knezevic said that the whole process of introducing these two new subjects cost about DM1.5 million.