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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Manner of resolving Kosovo status issue will affect entire region

Budapest, 31 October 2007

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic warned today in Budapest that the way in which the future status of Kosovo-Metohija is resolved will determine the direction in which the entire region will go and that it will have wider importance.

Speaking at a meeting on regional integrations and EU accession at the Corvinus University, Jeremic said that solution for Kosovo must be in line with international law based on the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.

Serbia offers to Kosovo Albanians an institutionally unlimited autonomy which would at the same time preserve Serbia's territorial integrity, the Minister explained and added that little progress has been achieved in the negotiations conducted by the mediating troika. He said that setting deadlines and hints made by some countries that if agreement is not reached by December 10, independence would be imposed on the Serbian southern province, do not encourage Pristina to truly negotiate.

An imposed solution not confirmed by the UN Security Council is a dangerous alternative to a compromise solution reached through negotiations, Jeremic underlined and warned that a dangerous precedent would be set in that way and legitimacy given to violent partition of states against their will. He said that the trans-Atlantic family of states plays an important role in completing the project of complete, free and peaceful Europe. It is a known fact that Serbia has had a difficult history with the NATO. We cannot forget the events which took place in 1999, but we must work together to make certain that this region does not see destruction and conflict again, said the Minister.

He said that Serbia can contribute to consolidation in the region and to collective security through the Partnership for Peace programme and all countries of the West Balkans should immediately get EU membership candidate status.

The Minister said that countries of the West Balkans are still hostages to a future which does not specify a particular time for joining the EU, and added that giving candidate status will have a positive influence on national and regional politics.

Jeremic reiterated that the Serbian government is completely committed to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, adding that the government will use all means to apprehend and hand over all Hague indictees who remain at large.

During his visit to Budapest, Jeremic talked to the Hungarian Foreign Minister Kinga Goncz and Chairman of the Hungarian Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Zsolt Nemeth.