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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Portugal withholds judgment on Kosovo

Lisbon/Belgrade, 2 April 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today in Lisbon, following talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado that Portugal has decided to withhold judgment on the issue of recognising the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija.

Vuk Jeremic, left, and Luis Amado

Author: Fonet

Jeremic, who is on a brief visit to Portugal after wrapping up his visit to Brazil, said in a statement to the news agency Tanjug that Portugal has not joined the countries which decided to recognise the illegal declaration of independence.

Jeremic said that during today’s talks with Amado, he conveyed that Serbia highly values Portugal’s stance and informed him about Serbia’s plan to consult the International Court of Justice through the UN General Assembly in September.

The Minister stressed that the legal opinion of the International Court of Justice will be an important reference which will help all those countries that have not decided yet to form an opinion about the illegal declaration of independence by the southern Serbian province.

Jeremic said that Amado said during the talks that the Portuguese government highly appreciates the restraint Serbia has shown so far under the difficult circumstances related to Kosovo-Metohija.

Portugal believes that Serbia has reacted in an appropriate manner concerning the issue and will continue to make diplomatic, political and all other efforts in order to establish peace and stability in the southern province, said Jeremic.

He said that he talked with Amado about the process of Serbia’s European integration and it was confirmed that Portugal is willing to continue giving full support to Serbia in the integration process.

According to Jeremic, Portugal is ready to sign the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia and will continue with activities within the EU so that necessary consensus is reached on the matter.

Jeremic said that Portugal is willing to make maximum efforts to remove visa restrictions for Serbian citizens as soon as possible.

The Serbian Foreign Minister will travel tomorrow to Bucharest where the NATO summit will be held, and later to New York, where he will talk with representatives of Security Council member countries.