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Independence of Kosovo-Metohija utterly unacceptable for Serbia

Belgrade/Brussels, 10 December 2007

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today in Brussels that negotiations on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija should be continued, and stressed that the province's independence, coordinated or otherwise, is utterly unacceptable for Serbia.

Vuk Jeremic

Author: Fonet

Following meetings with foreign ministers of EU member countries – Greece, Romania, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, Jeremic said that in these talks he conveyed Serbia’s stand that under no circumstances will the country recognise the independence of Kosovo-Metohija, but will carry on with the process of its inclusion in the EU structures.

He stressed that there is no immediate danger of a unilateral declaration of independence, but he warned all states and organisations who possibly intend to jeopardise Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty that such a move would have long term negative consequences on their relations with Belgrade.

I conveyed the message today, when officially the mandate of the Contact Group’s troika has expired, that Serbia is still ready to continue dialogue and search for a compromise on this issue, said the Minister.

I also spoke of Serbia’s firm stand that independence of Kosovo-Metohija is absolutely unacceptable for us and due to this we are ready to talk about what is acceptable, said Jeremic. He added that reactions varied.

Responding to questions by the press whether he discussed with EU foreign ministers the plan for coordinated declaration of independence of Kosovo-Metohija in cooperation with Brussels and Washington, which is being mentioned with increasing frequency, Jeremic said that any declaration, unilateral or coordinated, will be unacceptable for Serbia.

According to Jeremic, a solution which is not mutually acceptable cannot contribute to regional peace and stability and will not help the process of integrating the region into the EU.

Jeremic voiced hope that there will not be any coordinated, uncoordinated or semi-coordinated efforts which could lead to instability of the region. He warned that if independence of Kosovo-Metohija is recognised, Belgrade will have to seriously reexamine its relations with every organisation or state which decides to undermine Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

I hope that countries in the region or the international community will not enter a situation in which they will be faced with the question whether to jeopradise their relations with Serbia on a long term basis or not, said Jeremic. He stressed that Serbia remains dedicated to the goal of becoming an EU member.

Serbia remains completely committed to European integration and expects to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) very soon. Regardless of what the future brings, the challenges we might be confronted with, a European future remains one of the basic, central and strategic priorities of the Serbian government, said Jeremic.