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Serbia commends UN Secretary General’s report which affirms EULEX’s status-neutral stance

Belgrade/New York, 26 November 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic commended UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report, given today at the UN Security Council’s session, which affirms that the EULEX mission in Kosovo-Metohija will be status-neutral, in accordance with Resolution 1244 and under the UN protectorate.

Vuk Jeremic

Author: Fonet

Jeremic said that the report affirms EULEX’s status-neutral stance and therefore guarantees that it will not implement the Ahtisaari plan.

The Minister recalled that the Ahtisaari plan had been rejected by Serbia and the UN Security Council, which was also mentioned in the report.

Jeremic stressed that Serbia has always demanded that the Security Council guarantee that EULEX will be status-neutral in order to accept the reconfiguration of the UNMIK mission in the province.

Jeremic expressed satisfaction over the fact that the preconditions have been fulfilled, and that despite all the obstacles, the six-item plan will eventually be implemented, which means that EULEX will be status-neutral, in line with Resolution 1244 and under the UN protectorate.

The Minister invited Pristina not to oppose the will of the international community and the Security Council by denying the six-item plan.

Jeremic reiterated that Serbia will never accept Kosovo independence and appreciated the support of all the UN members which endorsed Serbia’s stance in this respect.

The Minister stressed that Serbia and Russia maintain the same policy of preserving this UN principle.

Jeremic said that Serbia is still determined to fight for Kosovo-Metohija in political, diplomatic and legal ways.

He stressed that Serbia’s demand that the Kosovo issue is resolved in accordance with international law is not only motivated by Serbia’s wish to preserve its national interest, its Constitution and to contribute to peace and stability in the region, but also by the fear that the Kosovo precedent could have larger consequences for the UN.

In Serbia’s opinion the argument that Kosovo is a unique case is baseless, said Jeremic, explaining that this assertion comes down to saying that Kosovo must be treated as an exception to international law and the issue of the future status of the province should be above the rules that regulate relations within the international community.

The Minister said that Serbia’s stance has not changed. He reiterated that the legitimacy of joint constructive efforts to resolve the problem with the help of international institutions is indisputable and that this is the only way to avoid undermining the territorial integrity of any UN member state.

He said that the resolution seeking the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence was approved in the UN General Assembly and now this extremely complex problem has for the first time shifted from the domain where it could have led to armed conflict.

By transferring the issue to the domain of law the international community has affirmed Serbia’s strategic choice to respond peacefully and with the highest degree of restraint towards the unilateral declaration of independence, said Jeremic.

The Minister brought it to the attention of Security Council members that Kosovo Serbs are living in extremely difficult conditions, stressing that they are the most threatened community in Europe today.

Jeremic pointed to a number of unresolved issues, such as the return of property seized from Serbs, the difficulties faced in the return of internally displaced persons and security threats to Serbs and members of international civilian missions.

He said that in June the UN Secretary General published a report in which he informed the Security Council of the plan to begin the reconfiguration of the international civilian presence in Kosovo, without Serbia’s consent and Security Council approval.

Ignoring Serbia’s opinion and the authority of the Security Council led to a crisis of legitimacy, said Jeremic, adding that Serbia once again responded peacefully and appealed to the Security Council presenting its stance that making Serbia a part of the process is absolutely vital to the success of the reconfiguration.

The Minister stressed that the message that Serbia’s voice must be heard was clear and after lengthy negotiations with the UN concerning the six point plan that represents joint interests, an agreement was reached.

The decrees set forth by the plan are to be found in the report before us. Our dialogue will continue, and Serbia will continue its constructive efforts as it maintains its firm principled stance on the Kosovo issue that is based on the Serbian Constitution and Resolution 1244, concluded Jeremic.