Q:
A:
UN Security Council expected to reaffirm Resolution 1244, UNMIK’s mandate
Belgrade/New York,
12 March 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated last night in New York that he expects the UN Security Council to reaffirm Resolution 1244 and the clear mandate of the UN mission in Kosovo.
Author:
Tanjug/UN PHOTO
Following his address to the open part of the UN Security Council’s session on Kosovo, Jeremic told journalists that UNMIK’s mandate is clear and that there cannot be any transfer of authority to another body.
He expressed expectation that a presidential statement will follow the session reaffirming Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s mandate and stressed that he expects further actions by the UN in order to prevent the situation in Kosovo-Metohija from escalating.
Speaking about EULEX, the Foreign Minister said he is not sure about the outcome of sending such a mission without previous permission from the UN Security Council and explained that Serbia therefore asked for political support from the Security Council last night.
We want to work with UNMIK, and not with an unauthorised civilian mission. We want to help UNMIK function on the basis of what was defined in Resolution 1244, Jeremic explained.
He reiterated that Serbia, being a sovereign state, considers the declaration of independence by Kosovo null and void and can use all disposable means to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but will never use violence.
The Minister also reiterated readiness by Belgrade to get involved in constructive political dialogue on the future status of the southern province so as to find a compromise solution acceptable to both sides.
The continuation of Kosovo talks is the issue of political will, Jeremic said and added that Kosovo is not the biggest of problems in the world, which is why a solution should not be hasty.
According to Jeremic, Serbia wants to find a compromise solution for Kosovo that will be reaffirmed in the Security Council, i.e., a solution that will not be outside the framework of the UN and imposed by big powers.
He pointed out that Belgrade hails commitment of the international community and the EU to Serbia, but noted that the EU mission has no legal ground and can only become legally operational if it gets Security Council permission.
Jeremic said that the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia will be of exceptional importance and stressed that there are deep divisions within Serbia on some crucial issues, but not on the Kosovo issue.
The position on Kosovo will be unchanged and unity on that issue will never vanish, Jeremic concluded.
He expressed expectation that a presidential statement will follow the session reaffirming Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s mandate and stressed that he expects further actions by the UN in order to prevent the situation in Kosovo-Metohija from escalating.
Speaking about EULEX, the Foreign Minister said he is not sure about the outcome of sending such a mission without previous permission from the UN Security Council and explained that Serbia therefore asked for political support from the Security Council last night.
We want to work with UNMIK, and not with an unauthorised civilian mission. We want to help UNMIK function on the basis of what was defined in Resolution 1244, Jeremic explained.
He reiterated that Serbia, being a sovereign state, considers the declaration of independence by Kosovo null and void and can use all disposable means to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but will never use violence.
The Minister also reiterated readiness by Belgrade to get involved in constructive political dialogue on the future status of the southern province so as to find a compromise solution acceptable to both sides.
The continuation of Kosovo talks is the issue of political will, Jeremic said and added that Kosovo is not the biggest of problems in the world, which is why a solution should not be hasty.
According to Jeremic, Serbia wants to find a compromise solution for Kosovo that will be reaffirmed in the Security Council, i.e., a solution that will not be outside the framework of the UN and imposed by big powers.
He pointed out that Belgrade hails commitment of the international community and the EU to Serbia, but noted that the EU mission has no legal ground and can only become legally operational if it gets Security Council permission.
Jeremic said that the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia will be of exceptional importance and stressed that there are deep divisions within Serbia on some crucial issues, but not on the Kosovo issue.
The position on Kosovo will be unchanged and unity on that issue will never vanish, Jeremic concluded.
-
Belgrade/Brussels, 12 May 2026Belgrade seeking concrete steps towards establishment of Community of Serb Municipalities
-
Belgrade/Brussels, 11 May 2026Belgrade-Priština dialogue not dialogue on mutual recognition
-
Belgrade, 10 April 2026Serbian health centres closed in villages of Suvo Grlo, Banje
-
Belgrade/New York, 9 April 2026Serbia remains committed to dialogue, peace, respect for international law
-
Belgrade, 9 April 2026EU urged to more actively monitor processes related to so-called Priština laws
-
Belgrade, 17 March 2026March pogrom was planned violence, ethnic cleansing
-
Belgrade, 14 March 2026Closure of Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija halted
-
Belgrade/Brussels, 4 March 2026Preservation of Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija key to peace, stability in region
