Q:
A:
Diplomacy to bring new negotiations on Kosovo
Belgrade,
21 August 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said that Serbia could achieve a diplomatic success this autumn by bringing Kosovo’s independence before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and reaching an agreement in the UN Security Council on the international civil mission in the province.
File photo of Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Tanjug
Jeremic said in an interview with Vecernje Novosti daily that there is a realistic chance an agreement can be reached with the UN Secretariat on the international civil presence in Kosovo by September or October, which would be confirmed by a UN Security Council decision.
It would establish the composition and mandate of the international civil mission, which would include the EU’s participation under the UN umbrella, and as part of Resolution 1244, without hampering Serbia’s sovereignty and without authorisation to implement Ahtisaari’s plan, he said.
Jeremic said that he is negotiating with UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier and his associates and added that reconfiguration of the UN mission in Kosovo began without Serbia but must not end without it.
Jeremic noted that Serbia’s key in defending Kosovo is international law. As the ICJ is the top authority on international law, it is normal that we seek ICJ opinion. This court can be approached in two ways; charges against specific countries or by seeking an opinion, and we opted for the latter, he said.
It is too early to predict the outcome of the vote in the General Assembly, he said noting that Serbia has had contacts with around 140 countries and can be optimistic.
He also noted that the General Committee is only about to include our request on the session’s agenda.
The pressure for those opposing our resolution will be directed at the General Committee, as it is easier to influence 30 countries than 192. I have personally spoken to 80% of UN members, Jeremic said.
Even the countries that recognised Kosovo as independent are not so much against the resolution, he noted.
The resolution has no political positions, it just seeks to solve a dilemma, whether international law has been violated to be resolved; Jeremic said nothing that Serbia has Russia’s explicit and active support.
We have had a special team in the UN for the past two months led by Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Fedor Starcevic. This was agreed during my meeting with Minister Lavrov in Moscow on July 16, he said.
Jeremic added that Russia is not placing demands on Serbia regarding its position on Georgia.
At the very start we said that a peaceful solution must be found through the UN and by respecting international agreements and law. That is also Russia’s principled position, said Jeremic.
From the very start, Serbia has pointed out to the international community that Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation of independence could be a dangerous precedent that could destabilise many parts of the world, not only the Caucasus.
Sooner than anyone expected, it turned out to be true, Jeremic said noting that this gives Serbia’s initiative even bigger chances.
Speaking on China, the Minister said that China has been supportive of Serbia’s principled position and added that Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a recent meeting with President Boris Tadic that China will continue to support Serbia.
Jeremic explained that it is realistic to expect that if the Serbian initiative is accepted, fresh negotiations on Kosovo could start within a year’s time.
I believe that unilateral moves are not sustainable in the long run, that they cannot result in long-lasting peace and stability, he said.
Once the ICJ states its position, we will have a stronger argument to oppose the wave of recognition, Jeremic said but repeated that the ICJ’s opinion is not binding but carries political and moral weight.
If the ICJ decides the way we expect, I think that conditions for a return to the negotiating table will be made, Jeremic concluded.
It would establish the composition and mandate of the international civil mission, which would include the EU’s participation under the UN umbrella, and as part of Resolution 1244, without hampering Serbia’s sovereignty and without authorisation to implement Ahtisaari’s plan, he said.
Jeremic said that he is negotiating with UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier and his associates and added that reconfiguration of the UN mission in Kosovo began without Serbia but must not end without it.
Jeremic noted that Serbia’s key in defending Kosovo is international law. As the ICJ is the top authority on international law, it is normal that we seek ICJ opinion. This court can be approached in two ways; charges against specific countries or by seeking an opinion, and we opted for the latter, he said.
It is too early to predict the outcome of the vote in the General Assembly, he said noting that Serbia has had contacts with around 140 countries and can be optimistic.
He also noted that the General Committee is only about to include our request on the session’s agenda.
The pressure for those opposing our resolution will be directed at the General Committee, as it is easier to influence 30 countries than 192. I have personally spoken to 80% of UN members, Jeremic said.
Even the countries that recognised Kosovo as independent are not so much against the resolution, he noted.
The resolution has no political positions, it just seeks to solve a dilemma, whether international law has been violated to be resolved; Jeremic said nothing that Serbia has Russia’s explicit and active support.
We have had a special team in the UN for the past two months led by Assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs Fedor Starcevic. This was agreed during my meeting with Minister Lavrov in Moscow on July 16, he said.
Jeremic added that Russia is not placing demands on Serbia regarding its position on Georgia.
At the very start we said that a peaceful solution must be found through the UN and by respecting international agreements and law. That is also Russia’s principled position, said Jeremic.
From the very start, Serbia has pointed out to the international community that Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation of independence could be a dangerous precedent that could destabilise many parts of the world, not only the Caucasus.
Sooner than anyone expected, it turned out to be true, Jeremic said noting that this gives Serbia’s initiative even bigger chances.
Speaking on China, the Minister said that China has been supportive of Serbia’s principled position and added that Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a recent meeting with President Boris Tadic that China will continue to support Serbia.
Jeremic explained that it is realistic to expect that if the Serbian initiative is accepted, fresh negotiations on Kosovo could start within a year’s time.
I believe that unilateral moves are not sustainable in the long run, that they cannot result in long-lasting peace and stability, he said.
Once the ICJ states its position, we will have a stronger argument to oppose the wave of recognition, Jeremic said but repeated that the ICJ’s opinion is not binding but carries political and moral weight.
If the ICJ decides the way we expect, I think that conditions for a return to the negotiating table will be made, Jeremic concluded.
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