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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Netherlands advocates solution for Kosovo-Metohija within UN Resolution, international law

Belgrade, 28 August 2007

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic and his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen agreed today that only a compromise solution for Kosovo-Metohija, accepted by both Serbs and ethnic Albanians, could guarantee stability in the region.

Vuk Jeremic and Maxime Verhagen

Author: Fonet

In a statement to the press, following a working breakfast with Verhagen at the Serbian Government Palace, Jeremic reiterated the government’s stance regarding the province’s status and EU integrations and added that Belgrade will do absolutely all it can to find a compromise solution for the province.

Minister Jeremic dismissed the possibility of any kind of division of Kosovo-Metohija and stressed that Belgrade is against any divisions of Serbia, and the province is its constituent part.

According to Jeremic, without a compromise between Serbs and ethnic Albanians there can be no lasting peace and stability in the region, and only peace and stability can guarantee that towards which Serbia is striving – prosperity and EU membership.

Serbia’s EU accession is the government’s central and strategic goal, emphasised Jeremic and voiced belief that once full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal is achieved, Serbia will embark on an accelerated road towards the EU.

Minister Jeremic said that he asked the Netherlands to support Serbia on this road, as well as to support the entire region of Western Balkans.

He told the press that they discussed bilateral cooperation, particularly in economy, and announced that tomorrow in Belgrade their two governments will sign an agreement on cooperation and support. On behalf of the Serbian government, the agreement will be signed by Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, added Jeremic.

Jeremic and Verhagen also agreed that the upcoming talks in Vienna on the resolution of Kosovo-Metohija’s status are of great importance and that a compromise and substantial solution for the province’s status should be reached.

Verhagen explained that the solution for Serbia’s southern province should be acceptable for both sides and stressed that both Albanians and Serbs should use this opportunity for new talks and make a move onwards from their current stances.

The Netherlands advocates that the solution for the province should be within the framework of international law and the UN Resolution and the Serbian minority and the Serbian cultural heritage should be protected, said Verhagen. He added that the Netherlands fully supports Serbia’s integration in Euro-Atlantic structures.

Verhagen said he expects that the EU will soon sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and that Serbia’s cooperation with the Hague Tribunal will be satisfactory.