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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Contemplation of Kosovo’s membership in CoE violates its own principles

Belgrade/Strasbourg, 20 February 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today in Strasbourg that just contemplating Pristina’s request for membership of the Council of Europe (CoE) would violate the principled stance of this organisation not to meddle in the province’s status settlement process.

Vuk Jeremic

Author: AP

Jeremic said in a closed meeting of CoE Committee of Ministers said that such a move would make the CoE an accomplice in the flagrant violation of international law and would question the organisation’s respect of its own values.

For Serbia, Kosovo-Metohija is not a territory like any other; it is the cradle of Serbian identity, the Foreign Minister said and added that this flagrant violation of the basic norms of international law has ridiculed the universal principles incorporated in the UN Charter and enriched in Europe by the CoE Statute and Helsinki Final Act.

He pointed out that the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate proclamation of Kosovo-Metohija’s independence has made the world change for the worse.

The world has changed, and it has not changed for better. On the contrary, as a result of this hostile act by authorities in Pristina, international order has become less stable and less secure, Jeremic warned.

He reiterated that Serbia will not tolerate the illegitimate secession by Kosovo-Metohija and recalled that the Serbian government and parliament have declared this move by Pristina to be invalid.

According to Jeremic, Serbian authorities will take all diplomatic and political measures in order to prevent this direct and unprovoked attack on Serbia’s sovereignty.

Jeremic stressed that as a responsible member of the international community Serbia is committed to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and will not resort to the use of force because this will not contribute to a peaceful solution to the crisis.

We are for peace, for agreement and consent. We are Europeans, said the Minister, stating that Kosovo-Metohija will always be a part of Serbia.

Jeremic said that as a European he is proud of his heritage, culture, beliefs and history, but feels deeply ashamed because some European countries have recognised the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of independence by the interim institutions in Pristina.

He stressed that what has been done against Serbia is not just a violation of international order, but also of the values that are the foundations of Europe.

According to Jeremic, if the recognition of this ethnically motivated secession from a democratic, European country is not wrong, then nothing is wrong.

Jeremic said that recognition of the unilateral independence of Kosovo-Metohija is being validated by the doctrine of interference for solving ethnic conflicts, as well as unilateral secession by an entity.

This transforms the right to self determination into the right to independence, gives legitimacy to the forceful partition of internationally recognised, sovereign states and undermines the commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in Europe, said the Minister.

Jeremic said, however, that he has not lost faith in Europe even though he is ashamed by the decisions of some Europeans. He voiced hope that Europe will live in accordance with its values.

He reiterated that in the case of the southern Serbian province only a mutually acceptable solution would be viable and lasting, and would pave the way to a joint, European future.