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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia constructive partner in resolution of problems in Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade/New York, 27 May 2014

President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic said tonight that Serbia reaffirmed, through its concrete actions, wise and patient policy, and in pain-staking dialogue with the Provisional Institutions in Pristina in the previous period, sincerity and persistence in accepting compromise solutions for the peaceful co-existence of inhabitants of Kosovo-Metohija.

Author: Radio Television of Serbia

In his speech at a session of the UN Security Council in New York dedicated to the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, Nikolic underlined that the efforts invested by the state leadership have been far greater, because the negotiations were conducted in very unfavourable circumstances of intensive promotion of Kosovo’s independence which represents a unilateral act of secession to Belgrade.

However, dialogue with representatives of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina, under the auspices of the European Union, has yielded remarkable results, he noted and thanked, in particular, Baroness Catherine Ashton who wisely and most patiently mediated, on behalf of the European Union, dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

The month of April 2014 marked a year since the reaching of the Brussels Agreement as a “true watershed” and a new chapter in relations with Belgrade and Pristina. This progress was welcomed by the entire world. Serbia has unequivocally demonstrated that it is a constructive partner and that it stands ready to make compromises in order to stabilise the situation and take the whole region forward, the Serbian President underlined. He expressed his conviction that the continued 15-year long and status-neutral presence of UNMIK under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), which is equally binding even today, constitutes the last bulwark against the policy of the promotion of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

As we have previously warned on a number of occasions, setting a precedent by Kosovo’s independence has resulted in porous state borders and given rise to potential new focal points of crisis, which has not spared the Continent of Europe either.

All this testifies to the fundamental principles on which the United Nations was incepted, and to the respect and defence of which many UN Member States together with Serbia are committed, Nikolic stated and added that Serbia has always respected and respects without exception the integrity of each UN member state.

According to him, Serbia expects that, in its case, justice and equity should be equally applied, no more and no less as to other countries.

He reiterated that Serbia does not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, but it is engaged in negotiations with it and will continue to do so, with a view to ensuring peace and prosperity for all inhabitants of Kosovo-Metohija. This is an invariable of the current Government and of any future ones.

In addition, the President underlined that Serbia will not be made to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija by a method of attrition.

By raising the negotiations with Pristina to the highest level, and through responsibility and patience, as well as with the signing of the Brussels Agreement, we have made a reality for the first time after the bombing of 1999, life together between Serbs and Albanians and other nations in Kosovo-Metohija, Nikolic underlined.

He said that now it is more important than ever to have both parties truly committed to dialogue; or else the idea of a tranquil life together will become a dead letter.

I am sure that the European Union will provide valuable assistance to us in building confidence, in particular in the further course of Brussels negotiations, as well as in the framework of European integration. The start of the accession talks with the EU is also seen by us as an impetus to further work on improving living conditions for Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, convinced at present that the constructive approach to fostering European values will be duly appreciated in Serbian society, the Serbian President said.

According to him, in order to be able to ensure the best possible results in the implementation of the Brussels Agreement we must establish much clearer rules and build much greater confidence.

In parallel with negotiations, the Albanian side has worked to additionally strengthen their independent state, through the so-called low-intensity terror against the Serb population, which is totally unacceptable to Serbia, Nikolic underlined and added that he believes that a decision to downsize UNMIK and the reduction of the number of international personnel would have an outright negative effect on the Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and affect the quality of the performance of the activities entrusted to the Mission.

Therefore, Nikolic called on the United Nations to resist the attempts at marginalising the UN Mission in Kosovo-Metohija and attaching relative importance to its role within overall international and security presences in the Province.

The coming period will be crucial for the implementation of arrangements made and for the further normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Therefore, this process must take place in full sight of the UN Mission in Kosovo-Metohija and the Security Council of the United Nations, according to him.

He stated that Serbia supports the initiative to set up a Special Tribunal and an Office of the Prosecutor based outside the territory of Kosovo-Metohija to try all cases resulting from the investigations carried out by the Special Investigation Task Force, led by International Prosecutor Clint Williamson.

Serbia will lend its full support to the efforts to bring all those responsible to justice, as it has done in the past, the Serbian President added.

The property rights of Serbs have also been at stake. Cases involving forged sales agreements have remained unsolved. Serb claims for compensation for the damage caused to their property have been refused on a massive scale. All this is indicative of discriminate application of regulations and rules.

The issue of minority rights, of course, also implies the restitution of property belonging to non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija, among whom Serbs constitute a majority. Moreover, there remains also an open issue of the property owned by the state of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church, Nikolic underlined.

Nikolic concluded that while appreciating the legitimate interests of the Albanian, Serb and other population of Kosovo-Metohija, and fully respecting the mandate of the United Nations, Serbia will resume the dialogue pending a mutually agreed and sustainable solution.