In his letter, Mr Putin said the Russian leadership and society believe that Russia’s relations with Yugoslavia can and should be close and trustworthy, and the countries’ bilateral contacts at different levels only reaffirm this position.
Mr Putin supported the Yugoslavian leadership’s priority of preserving the unity of the state. As far as the Kosovo settlement is concerned, Russia insists on the unconditional implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244 and the international community’s support of Yugoslavia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with an autonomous Kosovo remaining a part of Yugoslavia, the President stressed.
The head of state expressed his concern about the Albanian militants who are extending their activities to southern Serbia and northern Macedonia. “Only decisive political and, if need be, military action by the international community can prevent the conflict from spanning the whole of the Balkan region,” the letter said.
The letter was handed over by Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who was on a visit to Belgrade on the instruction of the President.