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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Jeremic and UN officials examine all aspects of Kosovo situation

Belgrade/New York, 4 April 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today that he will discuss all important aspects of the situation in the Serbian southern province with top UN officials, first of all with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

In a telephone statement to the Tanjug news agency, Jeremic said that he will insist that an official investigation which Serbia requested concerning the events that took place on March 17 begin as soon as possible. Serbia believes that international representatives used excessive force that day.

He will also talk with top UN officials about the transitional agreement which Serbia wants to sign with UNMIK and the manner in which it could be negotiated and implemented.

In our opinion that is absolutely necessary so that the relations between Serbia and UNMIK, as well as Kosovo Serbs and UNMIK, can be re-institutionalised within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 after the unilateral proclamation of independence by Pristina, the minister underlined.

Another topic he will discuss with officials of the UN Secretariat General is the holding of local and parliamentary elections in Kosovo on May 11.

A very important reason for the visit by the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs to the UN in New York is a Security Council session scheduled for April 21, when UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker will submit a report.

Just as every time prior to a Security Council session on Kosovo, we come to New York to prepare the groundwork, to make as many countries as possible familiar with our position concerning that report and the current situation on the ground so that they can be prepared for the debate, Jeremic underlined.

He also said that he will talk with president of the UN General Assembly Srdjan Kerim about the modalities of Serbia’s possible decision to ask the General Assembly to request the legal opinion of the International Court of Justice concerning the unilaterally proclaimed independence by Kosovo-Metohija.

This decision will be made by the government that will be formed after the May 11 elections. He said that preparations must be made for taking that step, so that the future Serbian government, if it were to decide to do so, could initiate the action without problems and deadlines.

Jeremic said that during his visit to New York, he will contact ambassadors of several countries which do not have permanent diplomatic missions in Belgrade, in order to inform them about Serbia’s stance.

These are countries which are influential in their regions and are directly monitoring the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, said Jeremic. He added that he will talk with the permanent representatives of Tanzania, Pakistan, Nigeria, Uruguay and Morocco, as well as ambassadors of Security Council member states.

The Foreign Minister said that during each of his visits to New York he will meet with representatives of as many countries as possible which might succumb to pressure and recognise the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo without considering the matter in detail.

We are making our stance known to them and warning them of the dangers which the decision to recognise the independence of Kosovo entails. The majority of those to whom we are talking, are conveying this message to their leadership, and as a result many governments have withheld judgment, which is of crucial and tactical importance in this phase of our battle to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, concluded Jeremic.