Q:
A:
Russia will not change its position on Kosovo-Metohija
Belgrade/Vienna,
24 September 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said in an interview to the Austrian Presse daily that Russia convinced Serbia that it will not change its position on the Kosovo-Metohija issue.
File photo of Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Tanjug
Jeremic said that Russia will uphold its position regardless of what will happen with Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s status, whose independence Moscow has recently recognised.
Pointing out that sovereignty and territorial integrity of internationally recognised countries are sacred and apply to Serbia like to all other countries, the Minister said that Belgrade will not recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s independence.
We appreciate Moscow’s help concerning the Kosovo-Metohija issue. But we are talking about the protection of Serbian national interests. We are not part of the Russian policy, said Jeremic.
He said that it is up to the EU to speed up Serbia’s EU entry, and pointed out that the EU must finally liberalise the visa regime, because people in Serbia must directly feel that the country’s pro-European way pays off and that they are welcome in the EU.
Speaking about the EU mission in Kosovo, Jeremic said that it is welcome in principle and that Serbia has nothing against EULEX taking over most of international presence in Kosovo.
There is a red line though. The future international mission must be confirmed by the UN Security Council. It has to be status-neutral and functioning within UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he stressed.
He pointed out that mission’s mandate cannot be set through Ahtisaari’s plan, as neither Serbia nor the Security Council accepted it.
The plan stipulates independence for our province of Kosovo. We cannot accept that and therefore we do not accept it as the basis for the future civilian mission in Kosovo-Metohija, Jeremic reiterated.
Pointing out that sovereignty and territorial integrity of internationally recognised countries are sacred and apply to Serbia like to all other countries, the Minister said that Belgrade will not recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s independence.
We appreciate Moscow’s help concerning the Kosovo-Metohija issue. But we are talking about the protection of Serbian national interests. We are not part of the Russian policy, said Jeremic.
He said that it is up to the EU to speed up Serbia’s EU entry, and pointed out that the EU must finally liberalise the visa regime, because people in Serbia must directly feel that the country’s pro-European way pays off and that they are welcome in the EU.
Speaking about the EU mission in Kosovo, Jeremic said that it is welcome in principle and that Serbia has nothing against EULEX taking over most of international presence in Kosovo.
There is a red line though. The future international mission must be confirmed by the UN Security Council. It has to be status-neutral and functioning within UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he stressed.
He pointed out that mission’s mandate cannot be set through Ahtisaari’s plan, as neither Serbia nor the Security Council accepted it.
The plan stipulates independence for our province of Kosovo. We cannot accept that and therefore we do not accept it as the basis for the future civilian mission in Kosovo-Metohija, Jeremic reiterated.
-
Belgrade, 29 October 2024State moves to minimise advertising for betting shops
-
Belgrade/Berlin, 28 January 2016Fences cannot stop migrations
-
Belgrade, 7 January 2016Serbia to experience dynamic economic growth in 2016
-
Belgrade, 31 December 2015Serbia will persevere on path of development, reforms
-
Belgrade, 30 December 2015Ground for Serbia’s progress set
-
Belgrade, 28 December 2015
Serbia ready for improvement of cooperation with Russia
-
Belgrade, 22 December 2015Serbia ready to open six more chapters next year
-
Belgrade, 21 December 2015Serbia to be part of EU by 2020
-
Belgrade, 20 December 2015Serbia ready for EU membership by 2019
-
Belgrade, 16 December 2015Chapter 35 not substitute for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue