Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Israel shows full understanding for Serbia's stance

Jerusalem/ Tel Aviv, 27 December 2007

In separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic conveyed Serbia's stance that the negotiating process on the status of Kosovo-Metohija must be continued.

Jeremic, who is a on a two-day visit to Israel, told Tanjug news agency that during these meetings he highlighted the need of preservation of territorial integrity of Serbia. The Israeli side showed exceptional understanding for Serbia's positions and confirmed that negotiations must be continued. Jeremic said that even if Kosovo Albanians make the unilateral and illegal move and declare independence, Israel will not be among the countries that will accept that, but will seriously consider every further step. According to Jeremic, the talks in Israel were very meaningful and constructive and were conducted in positive atmosphere. As part of the visit to Jerusalem, Jeremic visited the Memorial Holocaust Centre Yad Vashem, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance, paying tribute to millions of Jews killed in the holocaust in the Second World War. He laid one more wreath, dedicated to the memory of victims of the Jasenovac concentration camp. The Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs also met with Patriarch of Jerusalem Teofil III and visited the Church of Christ's Grave in Jerusalem, erected in the place where, according to the Christian belief, Jesus Christ was crucified and where he died.

This evening Jeremic held a lecture at the faculty for public administration, diplomacy and strategy on the subject “Serbia’s Foreign Policy and Israel”.

On that occasion, he said that the UN Security Council should make sure that an agreement is reached on the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.

We require that the Security Council makes it possible for all sides to negotiate a solution in an atmosphere of good will, said the Minister and added that only a solution acceptable for both Belgrade and Pristina could be viable and lasting.

According to Jeremic, this means that the way forward is in accepting the principles of compromise and consensus, and entering a process of balanced, patient and constant talks.

Jeremic stressed that Serbia is willing to interpret the traditional definition of sovereignty flexibly in order to reach agreement with Kosovo Albanians, and to make sure that Kosovo-Metohija gets widest possible autonomy conceivable, while remaining under a joint sovereign roof with Serbia.

The Minister recalled that the only viable solution for the issue of the future status of the province is compromise resulting from negotiations.

Jeremic is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres tomorrow.