The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

 Dear Mr Rudd, We, Australians of Serbian background are voicing our disapproval and expressing our concern for Australia being one of the countries to recognize the independence of Kosovo.   Kosovo secession represents a violent, internationally legitimized secession of its historic province from the Republic of Serbia.  It breaches Serbia’s sovereignty, the UN Charter, Kosovo’s constitutional framework, and agreements made within the Contact Group.  In summary, The Kosovo declaration is illegal under international laws. International law and the rule of law are the only capable mechanism of diminishing the rules of jungle in international relations.  The current Kosovo status crisis is seen as an example of a breach of these basic elements of civilization. UN SC Resolution 1244, adopted in 1999, defines Kosovo as an autonomous territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, SRJ, and thus guaranties its successor-state, Serbia, territorial integrity.   The only way to change Resolution 1244 would be with consent from both sides in the dispute.  Thus, Serbia’s efforts to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty should be respected. Unfortunately and obviously, the U.S. and Europe are not respecting the international law and the UN charter.  Unfortunately, “NATO’s military interests lie behind the proclamation of this false state and US have humiliated the EU and forced it to trample on the principles it is built upon”. Serbian government made a statement that Serbia will never recognize Kosovo and Metohija’s independence.  “However, we all have to be guided by reason and react with all peaceful, diplomatic and legal means to annul this act of Kosovo’s temporary institutions.”  The Serbian government calls for “restraint and peace” from citizens, stressing that protection of Serbs there, their property are of utmost importance at this moment and they urged KFOR and UNMIK in the provinces to protect the Serbs there. The Australian Serbs while condemning the international decision, we are joining in this plea.  We are also asking for protection of all holy places with hundreds of monasteries and churches that outlived Ottoman Empire, the WWI and the WWII as being of outmost importance.  We are asking our Australian government to refer to the international laws with more respect and use their diplomatic means that would satisfy UN obligations of all its members.

 Yours sincerely Mr. George Bubalo, President                                                         
Dr. Mark Marinkovic,OAM  Marinkovic,OAM, Vice-President