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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Serbia's global successes helped it in resolution of Kosovo issue

Belgrade, 9 October 2007

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said today that Serbia's successful chairmanship of the Council of Europe helped it act with more authority in its diplomatic activities, including the negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

In an interview to today's issue of Vecernje Novosti daily, given before the departure to Lisbon where he will speak at a conference at which October 10 will be proclaimed the European day against death penalty, Jeremic said that Serbia's global successes have helped it when it comes to Kosovo too.

He said that the negotiating process has two parallel fronts – one is direct negotiations, and the second is diplomatic front of obtaining support for Serbia's positions in the international community and above, adding that precisely in this task Serbia will benefit the most from reputation it gained during its chairmanship of the Council of Europe.

According to Jeremic, Serbia should not shun any kind of negotiations as long as there is a clear mandate of the United Nations for these negotiations because only the UN can give final legitimacy to any outcome possible.

The solution, no matter how it is reached, must be verified through a new UN Security Council resolution. We welcome the troika's mediating role, but we insist that the process must remain under the UN authority at every moment, Jeremic underlined.

Speaking about Russia's position on Kosovo issue, he said that so far Russia has taken the principled position that it is necessary to find a compromise solution in line with international law and that negotiations should last as much as needed.

Asked whether a possible substitution of UNMIK by an EU mission must be approved by a resolution of the UN Security Council, the Minister explained that the situation in Kosovo-Metohija is regulated by decisions of the UN Security Council, which means that any change in the province must be first approved by this body.

He underlined that there is no other way in which any part of Resolution 1244 can cease to be valid.

Jeremic said that the European day against death penalty was introduced during Serbia's chairmanship of the Council of Europe, which is an important success of Serbia.

In this way, Serbia has shown that it can be active on the international scene, on a topic that is not directly linked to Serbia and play a role in global issues. Jeremic voiced hope that on November 12, when its chairmanship ends, Serbia will get a very high grade and commendations for its work.