Q:
A:
UN Resolution 1244 must be respected
Belgrade/New York,
17 June 2009
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic sought from the UN Security Council this evening to ensure that all sides respect Security Council Resolution 1244. He said that efforts should not be made to get more countries to recognise Kosovo.
Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Fonet
Addressing the Security Council session on Kosovo, Jeremic said that no side should be allowed to ignore UN decisions, adding that Resolution 1244 was adopted according to the UN Charter Chapter 7 and all sides are obliged to respect it.
The Minister said that the International Court of Justice is currently considering the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence and its views on the matter will have far reaching consequences for the entire international order, which is why it is of crucial importance that court proceedings go on without interference or political pressure.
We must respect the fact that the Court is considering the case and because of this no attempts should be made to encourage more countries to recognise Kosovo. Similarly, international organisations should refrain from granting membership to the secessionist authorities in Pristina, said Jeremic.
He stressed that the UN must continue to be the top authority in Kosovo, as stated in Resolution 1244. He reiterated that the UN should continue to play its key role in coordinating all international organisations present in the province under its auspices.
The process of reconfiguration must be concluded, as stated in the report. After that we should not allow any further decrease in UNMIK resources, said Jeremic, warning that reducing the number of KFOR troops would be counterproductive under current circumstances.
The Minister said that KFOR play a constructive role in the province and they are responsible for protecting enclaves and religious heritage sites, including those listed as endangered by UNESCO and at risk of being attacked.
He said that the KFOR’s status neutral presence in the province is still necessary in order to protect the legitimate security needs of the local population, regardless of ethnicity.
Jeremic said that in the past three months only 30 Serbs returned to Kosovo, while last year more than 500 Serbs returned to their homes, adding that there are currently around 200,000 IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia.
Kosovo Serbs would like to return to their homes and we must do all we can to enable them to do so. First of all we must improve the living conditions of Kosovo Serbs in order to make them feel safe, said the Minister.
Jeremic said that more than 40,000 requests for the return of illegally confiscated property have been submitted and therefore recommended that UNHCR take over the Kosovo Property Agency’s duties in order to help Kosovo citizens find out what has happened with their illegally seized property.
The Minister stressed that attention should be paid to the reconstruction of the Serbian cultural heritage, eradication of poverty, provision of new jobs, suppression of organised crime and promotion of public security.
As for the UN six-item plan, Jeremic pointed out that it must be implemented in its entirety.
Although some progress has been made, we still need to find comprehensive and long-lasting solutions to the Kosovo problem, he said.
He specified that Pristina is denying the fact that the Ahtisaari plan was not approved by the UN Security Council primarily due to Russia’s principled stance, which is why the situation is Kosovo has not improved much.
Talking about the ability of Serbian officials to freely enter the southern Serbian province, Jeremic noted that this problem has been the main reason for dispute for the past several months and a serous threat to all the constructive efforts that Serbia has made in order to improve relations with Albanians.
We cannot help improve the situation in the field if our ability to cooperate closely with Kosovo Serbs is called into question, Jeremic warned.
The Minister said that the International Court of Justice is currently considering the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence and its views on the matter will have far reaching consequences for the entire international order, which is why it is of crucial importance that court proceedings go on without interference or political pressure.
We must respect the fact that the Court is considering the case and because of this no attempts should be made to encourage more countries to recognise Kosovo. Similarly, international organisations should refrain from granting membership to the secessionist authorities in Pristina, said Jeremic.
He stressed that the UN must continue to be the top authority in Kosovo, as stated in Resolution 1244. He reiterated that the UN should continue to play its key role in coordinating all international organisations present in the province under its auspices.
The process of reconfiguration must be concluded, as stated in the report. After that we should not allow any further decrease in UNMIK resources, said Jeremic, warning that reducing the number of KFOR troops would be counterproductive under current circumstances.
The Minister said that KFOR play a constructive role in the province and they are responsible for protecting enclaves and religious heritage sites, including those listed as endangered by UNESCO and at risk of being attacked.
He said that the KFOR’s status neutral presence in the province is still necessary in order to protect the legitimate security needs of the local population, regardless of ethnicity.
Jeremic said that in the past three months only 30 Serbs returned to Kosovo, while last year more than 500 Serbs returned to their homes, adding that there are currently around 200,000 IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia.
Kosovo Serbs would like to return to their homes and we must do all we can to enable them to do so. First of all we must improve the living conditions of Kosovo Serbs in order to make them feel safe, said the Minister.
Jeremic said that more than 40,000 requests for the return of illegally confiscated property have been submitted and therefore recommended that UNHCR take over the Kosovo Property Agency’s duties in order to help Kosovo citizens find out what has happened with their illegally seized property.
The Minister stressed that attention should be paid to the reconstruction of the Serbian cultural heritage, eradication of poverty, provision of new jobs, suppression of organised crime and promotion of public security.
As for the UN six-item plan, Jeremic pointed out that it must be implemented in its entirety.
Although some progress has been made, we still need to find comprehensive and long-lasting solutions to the Kosovo problem, he said.
He specified that Pristina is denying the fact that the Ahtisaari plan was not approved by the UN Security Council primarily due to Russia’s principled stance, which is why the situation is Kosovo has not improved much.
Talking about the ability of Serbian officials to freely enter the southern Serbian province, Jeremic noted that this problem has been the main reason for dispute for the past several months and a serous threat to all the constructive efforts that Serbia has made in order to improve relations with Albanians.
We cannot help improve the situation in the field if our ability to cooperate closely with Kosovo Serbs is called into question, Jeremic warned.
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