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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Imposing Kosovo independence clearly violates OSCE’s main act

Madrid, 29 November 2007

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said in Madrid that imposing independence of Kosovo-Metohija would be in clear violation of the Helsinki Final Act, which served as the basis for founding the OSCE.

Author: Fonet

Speaking at the 15th OSCE Ministerial Council, Jeremic said that it is necessary to continue negotiations on this issue and stressed that priority must be to prevent the founding document of the OSCE from becoming irrelevant.

He said that it is necessary to redefine the significance of December 10 and that this date should be something more than a marker of progress, and added that it must be established that nothing is more important than reaching a compromise acceptable to all.

The Minister said that this would create an atmosphere in which a historical decision could be reached. He added that it would strengthen democracy in Serbia, which is of key importance for successful reforms, and make the European future of the entire Western Balkans more secure.

Since, if the spirit born in Helsinki in 1975, teaches us about security and cooperation in Europe, then it also teaches us that geopolitical priorities must not be sacrificed at the altar of communal aspirations, said Jeremic.

Commenting on the role of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo-Metohija, he said that during the previous eight years a great deal of effort and resources were invested and the province needs peace, stability and security.

Unfortunately, the work of this largest OSCE Mission leaves a lot to be desired, said the Minister, and added that the mission in Kosovo-Metohija has not done enough on the issue of return of the majority of internally displaced persons, the process of reconciliation and coordination of the mission with Belgrade and the Serbian government.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of missing in the work of OSCE Mission in the field, the Minister said noting that the Mission in Kosovo did not get engaged enough to help more IDPs return as well as in the process of reconciliation and coordination with the Mission in Belgrade and the Serbian government.

This induces us to ask that the OSCE Mission in Kosovo reconsiders its methods and strategy, Jeremic said and added that Serbia is fully committed to international law and its basic documents, such as the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act.

Continuous failure of OSCE Mission in Kosovo is not an option, said Jeremic and noted that Resolution 1244 needs to be absolutely respected more.

Jeremic stressed that Serbia is dedicated to standards and values of OSCE, which includes protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, economic and environmental cooperation, inviolability of internationally recognised borders and preservation of peace and security in Europe.

The Minister reiterated that Serbia is resolved to continue with constructive engagement in the process of finding a compromise acceptable for both sides and noted that the process led by the negotiating troika unfortunately made the differences between Belgrade and Pristina even bigger. Jeremic recalled that December 10 was set as deadline but that some crucial participants in the process of negotiations were telling Belgrade and Pristina that independence will be imposed if no agreement is reached by then.

This only worsened the situation as interests of one side only – Kosovo Albanians – were promoted. Jeremic, who is in Madrid today and tomorrow, will meet with foreign ministers of a number of countries on the margins of the OSCE ministerial summit.