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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Resolute fight against terrorism must be primary obligation of all countries

Belgrade/New York, 24 September 2004

Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic said that the insistence on the creation of a sovereign state of Kosovo amounts to a call for the break up of the sovereign state of Serbia-Montenegro. That in turn breeds new hatreds and miseries and is contrary to the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic addresses the United Nations General Assembly

Author: Fonet

Addressing the delegates of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Draskovic said that over the last five years of international administration and dominance of the Albanian majority in Kosovo-Metohija, more than 2,500 Serbs have been killed or abducted, and 150 centuries-old churches and monasteries and about 40,000 homes have been destroyed. As a consequence of terrorism and massive violations of basic human rights, almost 200,000 Serbs and other non-Albanians have been expelled from Kosovo and Metohija.

“The hopes of suffering victims are directed at the United Nations, its bodies and agencies. The spirit of a united Europe and of a world united, lives in the hearts of Serbs and Montenegrins. While we respect the state borders that we share with our neighbours, we wish to erase them in practical life and to build a common European future based on dialogue, reconciliation and the equality of all nations, cultures and faiths. We are fully confident of attaining this goal with the strong support of the United Nations. We are ready to work on an agreement on the status of Kosovo and Metohija. However, we will not agree to the violation of our state and its rights,” said Draskovic.

The Serbia-Montenegrin Foreign Minister expressed Belgrade's readiness to fulfill its international obligations, including cooperation with the Hague tribunal. “By applying consistent standards in addressing all crimes, the United Nations will also assist the efforts of democratic Government in Serbia and Montenegro to fulfill our obligations to the ICTY. We must do this. The nation is innocent, responsibility rests on the individual and none of the indicted for war crimes has a right to hold the nation hostage,” said Draskovic.

He said that the resolute fight against terrorism is a primary obligation of all countries in the world and highlighted that every form of terrorism must be condemned with equal resolve by all. There can be no "acceptable" terrorists, nor should terrorists be proclaimed as "freedom fighters" anywhere.