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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Cyprus supports Serbia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity

Belgrade/Nicosia, 8 April 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated today that Serbia will continue with its diplomatic struggle for the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity and voiced pleasure at the support of the friendly and brotherly Cyprus.

Vuk Jeremic, left, and Marios Karoyian

Author: Fonet

Following a meeting with President of the Cypriot Parliament Marios Karoyian, Jeremic stressed that Belgrade respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and that it is grateful for the same stance on the part of Nicosia when it comes to Serbia.

He said that he agreed with Karoyian that the proclamation of independence by Kosovo-Metohija is an attempt to dismember an internationally recognised state and noted that Serbia’s strategic goal is full EU membership.

Jeremic and Karoyian also concluded that bilateral relations between their countries are satisfactory and announced that a Cypriot parliamentary delegation will visit Belgrade.

Karoyian reiterated that Cyprus endorses Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the continuation of its EU integration process.

He stressed that solutions to problems cannot be imposed from the outside and noted that Cyprus has unfortunate experience with such decisions. Solutions must be found through talks and mutual desire of all the parties involved, added Karoyian.

Jeremic said at a press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Markos Kyprianou that Serbia’s refusal to accept Kosovo's independence must not influence its EU integration.

There has been a lot of confusion over the past few days and many have tried to insinuate that Serbia will have come to terms with and accept Kosovo’s independence in order to preserve its European aspirations; but that is not true, Jeremic stressed adding that Serbia does not expect such a condition to be set.

The Minister pointed out that he is today in the capital of an EU country that will never recognise Kosovo and asked how then can someone ask that of Serbia.

He stressed that Serbia will not give up its sovereignty and territorial integrity, nor its aspirations to become an EU member.

Jeremic reiterated that Serbia will continue to fight to prevent its southern province from becoming a member of any international organisation, and that Serbia plans to challenge the independence of Kosovo in the International Court of Justice.

Kyprianou reiterated that Cyprus is opposed to Kosovo’s independence and pointed to the fact that a significant number of EU countries have taken the same stance.

For us, this is a question of principles, a question of safeguarding the territorial integrity of all countries, said Kyprianou.

He explained that without unity among its ranks the EU cannot set the recognition of Kosovo’s independence as a condition to Serbia for accepting it as a member, and added that Cyprus wants to see Serbia in the EU as soon as possible.