[Crvena zvezda]

The reply of the Serbian prime minister:

Koštunica: Youth show they want justice 22 February 2008
Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica has today commented yesterday's mass rally in Belgrade.

Some 250,000 Serbians gathered to peacefully protest and reject Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of secession, but small groups caused riots in other parts of the town later.

Koštunica said today that the people, especially the young, have send out a message from the rally that they want law, justice and freedom.

"The people of Serbia have, in this magnificent gathering and prayer, said what they think about Kosovo and Metohija, and about the brutal violence that Serbia is subjected to."

"Above all, the youth of Serbia have sent out a message that they want law, justice and freedom, and that they reject the western policy of force," Koštunica said in his statement Friday.

According to him, Serbia, at this point, with its defense of Kosovo, demonstrates that it also defends the highest values that the democratic world is based upon.

"And that means, Kosovo is Serbia," Koštunica repeated the slogan popular in the country.

The statement also said that, "unfortunately, great tragedy also occurred yesterday, a human life was lost".

"We must do all in our power to make our opposition to the force work in the interest of Serbia, and in the interest of our southern province. Violence and destruction are damaging our struggle to preserves our state and national interests."

"All those who advocate the false state of Kosovo are happy to see violence in the streets of Belgrade," the prime minister concluded.