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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Territorial integrity Serbia’s top diplomatic priority

Belgrade, 20 October 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated that the Ministry’s first 100 days were marked by diplomatic struggles resulting in the adoption of Serbia’s resolution at the UN General Assembly.

At a press conference in the government building Jeremic recalled that the resolution asks the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence.

He noted that Serbia is faced with an ambitious plan to transfer the Kosovo issue from the political to the legal field, because Serbia best arguments lie there.

He explained it is necessary to ensure a majority at the UN General Assembly, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had approached this task systematically and with a plan.

We talked with everyone and made contacts with representatives of 150 countries. In the end we succeeded, stressed Jeremic, noting that Serbia encountered serious resistance and pressure.

According to him, the greatest responsibility for the defence of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is now with the legal team, comprising the most renowned Serbian experts and aided by foreign ones.

Jeremic said that Serbia can be optimistic regarding the success at the ICJ and added that it will most likely face a year or two of struggles at this supreme judicial institution.

He stressed that the defence of the country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty will remain a priority of Serbian diplomacy, adding that its emphasis will be on preventing Kosovo-Metohija from becoming a member of international organisations and limiting the number of countries ready to recognise the province’s unilaterally declared independence.

The Minister voiced expectation that the ICJ will make a decision in accordance with Serbia’s stance that the unilaterally declared independence is illegal from the point of view of international law, and that afterwards international conditions will be such as to leave no other possibility for Belgrade and Pristina but to return to the negotiating table.

Speaking about the government’s second foreign policy priority – speeding up EU integration, Jeremic said that a certain success has been achieved, since 26 countries supported Serbia, while only the Netherlands, for interior policy reasons, opposed it.

He pointed out that Serbia’s EU integration is not only the concern of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but also of the entire government, and stressed that full cooperation with the Hague tribunal is the last political precondition for unfreezing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.

In the upcoming period the Ministry expects progress regarding EU integration and acquisition of EU candidate status in 2009, after which there will not be any obstacles to Serbia’s entry, stressed Jeremic.

Speaking on possible links between the acceptance of the EU mission in Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration, Jeremic reiterated that the two issues are completely separate and Serbia will never accept any relationship between them.

Jeremic said that the official state policy on Kosovo-Metohija will not change and explained that the international civilian presence in Kosovo can only be reconfigured with Belgrade’s acceptance and the explicit UN Security Council’s affirmation.

According to him, the international civilian presence is not there to interfere with Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty or to secure the implementation of Marti Ahtisari’s plan, rejected by both Serbia and the UN Security Council.

Jeremic said that there was progress concerning that issue, adding that by reaching agreement with the UN, Serbia will accept an important European faction in Kosovo, in accordance with international law.

He announced that the Foreign Ministry will continue the modernisation and rationalisation process, and explained that in this respect the number of staff has already been decreased, while the process is aimed at creating a Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the 21st century.

The Minister also stated that Serbia does not consider normalising diplomatic relations with Montenegro and Macedonia at the moment, and pointed out that Serbia does not plan to change its relations with the countries in the region which have recognised Kosovo’s independence.

Jeremic affirmed that Serbia had asked for countries, including Montenegro and Macedonia, to refrain from declaring their position on Kosovo’s independence before the vote in the UN General Assembly. Serbia also made it clear that, if the vote is positive, Serbia will still expect that those countries to not declare their position until the court makes a verdict, pointed out Jeremic.