November 6, 2006 -- Israel supports Serbia's negotiating position on
the Kosovo status talks and is against any imposed solution because they
will not hold, said Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Livni's
statement came after her meeting with the Serbian Foreign Policy Minister,
Vuk Draskovic who is on an official three days visit to Israel.
"We have concluded with the Minister [Livni] that even in a case of
a painful Kosovo decision, we can in one diplomatic offensive achieve much
so that such decision could be reversed," said Serbian Foreign Minister
Vuk Draskovic.
Livni has confirmed to Serbian reporters that "Israel supports a compromise
agreement" on Kosovo status and that she was very interested in hearing
all ideas that the Serbian side was willing to accept as an outcome in
the talks.
Livni was grateful to Serbia for its offer to use its influence in the
Islamic world to help bring about official recognition of the state of
Israel as well as Serbia's "clear condemnation of Iranian president's comments
on Israel."
"Everyone, and Albanians should respect the UN principle of territorial
integrity," said Draskovic. "I am asking Israeli support of Serbia on this
issue."
After a meeting with Draskovic, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said
that Israel is ready for an economic offensive into Serbia that could bring
in about $4 billion in investments. Draskovic confirmed that Israeli investment
opportunities in Serbia are "practically limitless."
At the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Draskovic was moved by the memory
of Jasenovac, a Nazi era Croatian concentration camp where over 1 million
Serbs and Jews were murdered.
"It is our responsibility to remember as long we are alive. To forgive?
We do not have the right to forgive for those that are dead and murdered,"
wrote Draskovic in the Memorial's book of memories.