Q:
A:
Kosovo-Metohija to be part of Serbia forever
Belgrade/Sofia,
27 February 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said at the meeting of foreign ministers of countries from the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Sofia that Serbia will never recognise the independence of its southern province and stressed that Kosovo-Metohija will always be a part of Serbia.
Vuk Jeremic, left, and Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek
Author:
Fonet
Jeremic said that regional cooperation in South East Europe, just as any where else, can be built only upon the inviolability of borders and full respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of internationally recognised countries.
Our European aspirations will not be helped by conflicts and disagreements, rather by cherishing consensus, based on the knowledge that we are on the path towards positive and stable interdependence, said Jeremic.
He reiterated that on February 17 the interim institutions of Kosovo-Metohija unilaterally and illegally made an illegitimate declaration of independence, which has burdened the region with the enormous task of taking joint action to prevent decisions which might divide it again, said the Minister.
Unfortunately, some participant countries have chosen to support this illegal secession, which has made our region unstable, unsafe and unpredictable, said Jeremic.
He reminded that nearly half a million people protested in Belgrade, condemning the violent partition of Serbia, and expressed regret over the attacks on certain embassies and shops which followed the protest.
We have condemned vandalism and all those involved will be held responsible. Allow me to take this opportunity to express heartfelt regret to my counterparts whose embassies were attacked. We are doing everything in our power to prevent this from occurring again, said Jeremic.
He recalled that existing norms dictate that Pristina should participate in the work of the SEECP in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 1244 signified as “UNMIK/Kosovo”.
Serbia does not intend to obstruct the important work which needs to be done to improve and expand regional cooperation, said the Minister and added that maintaining the status quo is Serbia’s minimum demand.
According to Jeremic, Serbia will never abandon this vision and will never recognise the declaration of independence by its southern province.
Jeremic recalled the important part the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, now known as the SEECP, played in realising the European aspirations of countries in the region. He added that by founding the council, which will now take up the work of the pact, the region has acquired a key role in bringing about change.
Our European aspirations will not be helped by conflicts and disagreements, rather by cherishing consensus, based on the knowledge that we are on the path towards positive and stable interdependence, said Jeremic.
He reiterated that on February 17 the interim institutions of Kosovo-Metohija unilaterally and illegally made an illegitimate declaration of independence, which has burdened the region with the enormous task of taking joint action to prevent decisions which might divide it again, said the Minister.
Unfortunately, some participant countries have chosen to support this illegal secession, which has made our region unstable, unsafe and unpredictable, said Jeremic.
He reminded that nearly half a million people protested in Belgrade, condemning the violent partition of Serbia, and expressed regret over the attacks on certain embassies and shops which followed the protest.
We have condemned vandalism and all those involved will be held responsible. Allow me to take this opportunity to express heartfelt regret to my counterparts whose embassies were attacked. We are doing everything in our power to prevent this from occurring again, said Jeremic.
He recalled that existing norms dictate that Pristina should participate in the work of the SEECP in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 1244 signified as “UNMIK/Kosovo”.
Serbia does not intend to obstruct the important work which needs to be done to improve and expand regional cooperation, said the Minister and added that maintaining the status quo is Serbia’s minimum demand.
According to Jeremic, Serbia will never abandon this vision and will never recognise the declaration of independence by its southern province.
Jeremic recalled the important part the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, now known as the SEECP, played in realising the European aspirations of countries in the region. He added that by founding the council, which will now take up the work of the pact, the region has acquired a key role in bringing about change.
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