NATO DECLINES SERBIAN ARMY'S OFFER OF ASSISTANCE IN STABILISING SITUATION IN KOSOVO

BELGRADE, March 18 (Hina) - NATO declined the offer of the Supreme Defence Council of Serbia and Montenegro for the Army of Serbia and Montenegro to help international peace keepers in Kosovo stabilise the situation in the province, Serbia and Montenegro's Defence Minister Boris Tadic said on Thursday.#L# Addressing reporters after today's session of the parliamentary committees on security and Kosovo, Tadic said the situation in Kosovo was very difficult and the army and police were ready and determined to protect Kosovo Serbs, but that "if the Army of Serbia and Montenegro crossed the administrative border with Kosovo, international forces would immediately stop protecting Serbs and enter a conflict with the army and police". Tadic strongly condemned violence in the streets of Serbian cities and the burning of mosques in Belgrade and Nis, appealing for "patience and restraint". He said that in last night's interview with the CNN he wanted to "talk about the violence against Kosovo Serbs, but their main topic was the burning of mosques and the attack on the US Embassy". (Hina) rml sb