Q:
A:
Serbia expects OIC members to keep respecting its territorial integrity
Belgrade,
4 March 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic sent a letter to Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu voicing his regret and disappointment with Ihsanoglu’s acknowledgment of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija.
Jeremic stressed in the letter that he is very disappointed because the OIC Secretary General welcomed the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of independence by the southern Serbian province which is under provisional UN administration.
The Minister recalled that the Serbian government considers this act illegal and in contravention of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stressed that the declaration of independence is a gross violation of Resolution 1244.
He emphasised that it also violates all previous UN Security Council resolutions concerning the province, that explicitly affirm Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which includes Kosovo-Metohija.
Serbia rightfully expects the largest part of internationally recognised, sovereign states, including OIC members, to keep respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to recognise the unilateral declaration of independence, stressed the minister.
Jeremic voiced belief that OIC members will continue to abide by international law, given that the basic principles of the UN are of particular importance to them.
He said he also hopes that OIC members will not permit the creation of a precedent whereby a portion of the territory of a sovereign state and a UN member can be taken away from it in a time of peace and against the will of that country.
According to him, such a precedent would have dire consequences for peace and safety in the world; it would give legitimacy to the doctrine of imposing solutions on ethnic conflicts and acts of unilateral secession and would transform the right to self-determination into the right to independence.
There is no doubt that many separatist groups worldwide, including those active on the territory of OIC member countries, would use the Kosovo case as an argument for justifying their own tendencies, warned Jeremic in his letter.
He explained that the Kosovo case has nothing to do with religion and is only a matter of ethnic and political conflict. He also stressed that Serbia is committed to good relations with Islamic countries and their organisations.
In his letter, Jeremic demanded that Serbia be given observer status in the OIC and therefore be allowed to attend the next OIC summit, scheduled for March 13–14 in Senegal.
The Minister recalled that the Serbian government considers this act illegal and in contravention of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stressed that the declaration of independence is a gross violation of Resolution 1244.
He emphasised that it also violates all previous UN Security Council resolutions concerning the province, that explicitly affirm Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which includes Kosovo-Metohija.
Serbia rightfully expects the largest part of internationally recognised, sovereign states, including OIC members, to keep respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to recognise the unilateral declaration of independence, stressed the minister.
Jeremic voiced belief that OIC members will continue to abide by international law, given that the basic principles of the UN are of particular importance to them.
He said he also hopes that OIC members will not permit the creation of a precedent whereby a portion of the territory of a sovereign state and a UN member can be taken away from it in a time of peace and against the will of that country.
According to him, such a precedent would have dire consequences for peace and safety in the world; it would give legitimacy to the doctrine of imposing solutions on ethnic conflicts and acts of unilateral secession and would transform the right to self-determination into the right to independence.
There is no doubt that many separatist groups worldwide, including those active on the territory of OIC member countries, would use the Kosovo case as an argument for justifying their own tendencies, warned Jeremic in his letter.
He explained that the Kosovo case has nothing to do with religion and is only a matter of ethnic and political conflict. He also stressed that Serbia is committed to good relations with Islamic countries and their organisations.
In his letter, Jeremic demanded that Serbia be given observer status in the OIC and therefore be allowed to attend the next OIC summit, scheduled for March 13–14 in Senegal.
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