Q:
A:
Serbia's crucial goal to join EU
Brussels,
26 June 2007
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said today in his address to the European parliament's Committee for Foreign Affairs that Serbia's main goal is to enter the EU and underlined that Belgrade will do its level best to find a compromise solution for the status of Kosovo-Metohija.
Author:
Tanjug
Jeremic said that Serbia offers a compromise, a mutually acceptable solution through a decision of the UN Security Council and that it does not want to be forced into isolation.
The Minister said that the Serbian government wants to conclude cooperation with the Hague tribunal, implement necessary reforms and sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Belgrade wants to work on a compromise together with Albanians, Russia, the US, the EU and the Contact Group, but the right basis for a deal is necessary, Jeremic said.
Asked how Serbia would react if some EU countries recognised Kosovo without a Security Council decision, the Minister said that Serbia would be in a very difficult position because no country in the world would accept seizure of a part of its territory.
He warned that this would be a violation of fundamental principles of peace and order in the world, of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. He added that in that case Serbia would have no choice but to reconsider relations with countries which decide to violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Not a single country in the world would react differently, and Serbia will make all efforts to avoid isolation.
According to Jeremic, an imposed solution for the status of the province will not be viable since it will only serve to create a new conflict.
The Kosovo-Metohija precedent will not just damage the Balkans, warned Jeremic, adding that conflicts existing throughout the world could escalate; frozen conflicts could renew, and new ones might ensue.
The Minister expressed conviction that if real negotiations are begun, a compromise on the Kosovo-Metohija status issue acceptable for both sides could be reached.
He explained that such a solution should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, while allowing Kosovo Albanians to realise their legitimate demand for substantial autonomy.
Serbia’s place is in the EU and membership of the EU is our essential priority. For Serbia the question of EU integration and a compromise regarding the status of Kosovo-Metohija are two different issues and they should be treated as such since Serbia cannot agree to a choice between the EU and Kosovo-Metohija, concluded Jeremic.
European Parliament members, in their debate, complimented the new government of Serbia on speedy reforms and concrete results in cooperation with the Hague tribunal. European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that the issue of Serbia’s EU integration should be separated from the Kosovo-Metohija issue.
The Minister said that the Serbian government wants to conclude cooperation with the Hague tribunal, implement necessary reforms and sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
Belgrade wants to work on a compromise together with Albanians, Russia, the US, the EU and the Contact Group, but the right basis for a deal is necessary, Jeremic said.
Asked how Serbia would react if some EU countries recognised Kosovo without a Security Council decision, the Minister said that Serbia would be in a very difficult position because no country in the world would accept seizure of a part of its territory.
He warned that this would be a violation of fundamental principles of peace and order in the world, of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. He added that in that case Serbia would have no choice but to reconsider relations with countries which decide to violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Not a single country in the world would react differently, and Serbia will make all efforts to avoid isolation.
According to Jeremic, an imposed solution for the status of the province will not be viable since it will only serve to create a new conflict.
The Kosovo-Metohija precedent will not just damage the Balkans, warned Jeremic, adding that conflicts existing throughout the world could escalate; frozen conflicts could renew, and new ones might ensue.
The Minister expressed conviction that if real negotiations are begun, a compromise on the Kosovo-Metohija status issue acceptable for both sides could be reached.
He explained that such a solution should respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia, while allowing Kosovo Albanians to realise their legitimate demand for substantial autonomy.
Serbia’s place is in the EU and membership of the EU is our essential priority. For Serbia the question of EU integration and a compromise regarding the status of Kosovo-Metohija are two different issues and they should be treated as such since Serbia cannot agree to a choice between the EU and Kosovo-Metohija, concluded Jeremic.
European Parliament members, in their debate, complimented the new government of Serbia on speedy reforms and concrete results in cooperation with the Hague tribunal. European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that the issue of Serbia’s EU integration should be separated from the Kosovo-Metohija issue.
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