Kosovo Minister for Local Government, Ljubomir Maric said last night that for the Serbs was unacceptable to change status of Trepca, as a pillar of the economy and economic development of the Serbian community in Kosovo, with "hastily adopted decisions".

According to him, the issue of Trepca is and the political and legal issue. Kosovo Parliament last night adopted specific legislation to extend the deadlines and prevent the liquidation of Trepca.

"Since there is coalition agreement on making decisions without us, and concerning the coalition agreement, the privatization in the Serbian communities, without us will not be possible," the minister said, adding that the Serb representatives in the Assembly therefore had a firm and principled stance.

He said that Trepca in northern Kosovo has recorded each year production increase of 25 per cent.

"A legal entity that gains profits simply cannot be subject to liquidation, and strategic issues of Trepca’s development and the decisions of a legal nature must be the product of consensus among all parties involved in this process," said Maric.