Q:
A:
Belgrade observes UN Day
Belgrade,
25 October 2007
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said late yesterday that Serbia will continue to actively cooperate with the United Nations on building a safer and more prosperous world and pointed to disappointing results of the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija since 1999.
Speaking at a reception held at the Belgrade City Hall organised to observe the United Nations Day, Jeremic said that establishment of interim institutions of self-government was followed by marginalisation of non-Albanian communities in Kosovo, mostly Serbs.
He warned that since the arrival of UNMIK, 200,000 people have left the province, mostly Serbs, but also Roma and other minorities, while only a small number returned.
The obvious example of the worrying situation is the condition of the Serbian cultural and religious heritage in the province, where over 150 churches have been destroyed in the past eight years.
On this occasion I can only voice hope that we can start working together on securing a more efficient implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Minister said and added that progress can be achieved only through compromise, negotiations and agreement based on the principles of the UN Charter that guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity to its member states, and not in unilateral actions.
A solution for Kosovo's status based on the agreement is the only way to secure that all citizens of Serbia, regardless whether they live in Prizren, Pozarevac, Gracanica or Gornji Milanovac, get united and work together for a better future, Jeremic said.
Addressing the guests, UN resident representative in Serbia Lance Clark said that this year's motto of the UN is "We are all part of Society" and added that it is necessary to make joint efforts to improve the situation of those parts of society which have very high rates of unemployment and poverty.
The situation is especially difficult among refugees, the displaced, the elderly, the Roma, disabled persons and in rural areas.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet also addressed the guests and conveyed regards of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and praised Serbia as a country that gives active contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations.
The reception was attended by representatives of 19 UN agencies in Serbia, members of the Serbian government, diplomatic corps and international organisations, as well as representatives of NGOs, donors' communities, business sector and the media.
The United Nations Day is observed in the entire world in the remembrance of October 24, 1945 when representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco and initialled the UN Charter.
He warned that since the arrival of UNMIK, 200,000 people have left the province, mostly Serbs, but also Roma and other minorities, while only a small number returned.
The obvious example of the worrying situation is the condition of the Serbian cultural and religious heritage in the province, where over 150 churches have been destroyed in the past eight years.
On this occasion I can only voice hope that we can start working together on securing a more efficient implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Minister said and added that progress can be achieved only through compromise, negotiations and agreement based on the principles of the UN Charter that guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity to its member states, and not in unilateral actions.
A solution for Kosovo's status based on the agreement is the only way to secure that all citizens of Serbia, regardless whether they live in Prizren, Pozarevac, Gracanica or Gornji Milanovac, get united and work together for a better future, Jeremic said.
Addressing the guests, UN resident representative in Serbia Lance Clark said that this year's motto of the UN is "We are all part of Society" and added that it is necessary to make joint efforts to improve the situation of those parts of society which have very high rates of unemployment and poverty.
The situation is especially difficult among refugees, the displaced, the elderly, the Roma, disabled persons and in rural areas.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet also addressed the guests and conveyed regards of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and praised Serbia as a country that gives active contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations.
The reception was attended by representatives of 19 UN agencies in Serbia, members of the Serbian government, diplomatic corps and international organisations, as well as representatives of NGOs, donors' communities, business sector and the media.
The United Nations Day is observed in the entire world in the remembrance of October 24, 1945 when representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco and initialled the UN Charter.
-
Belgrade/New York, 9 April 2026Serbia remains committed to dialogue, peace, respect for international law
-
Belgrade, 8 April 2026Serbia remains firmly committed to strengthening cooperation in region
-
Belgrade, 7 April 2026Serbia’s infrastructure, economic development through partnership with China
-
Belgrade, 6 April 2026Anniversary of 1941 bombing of Belgrade marked
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Serbian Army remains committed to UNIFIL tasks
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Switzerland’s financial support for reform processes in Serbia
-
Belgrade, 30 March 2026Cooperation with Russia, Belarus in areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026World Bank support for implementation of priority energy projects
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026Continued cooperation with Germany on utility infrastructure projects
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Activities of state institutions for opening clusters 2 and 5 examined