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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Pristina will have to start dialogue with Belgrade

Belgrade/Vienna, 27 June 2009

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic expressed assurance that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague will come to a conclusion that the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo is against international law and stressed that Pristina will then have to start a dialogue with Belgrade if they want to clear out the unclear situation.

In an interview with Vienna’s Der Standard, Jeremic stated that the process on the legality of Kosovo’s independence is ongoing before the ICJ.

We are sure that the court’s verdict will show that international law was violated in the case of Kosovo. Pristina will then be in a difficult position as no more recognitions will be possible. After such a verdict, Kosovo will certainly will not be able to become member of certain international organisations. Pristina will have to start a dialogue and negotiations with Belgrade to overcome that situation, said Jeremic.

According to him, earlier negotiations were unsuccessful because Kosovo Albanians were promised independence should negotiations failed.

Only 60 out of 192 countries UN members recognised Kosovo, which means that a vast majority of countries recognises Serbia’s territorial integrity, he said.

Serbia’s diplomatic efforts paid out obviously. Through a peaceful policy in the meantime, we managed to legalise our positions despite constant pressures by some of the most powerful countries of the world. On the other hand, we strongly believe that Serbia and other Western Balkan countries will become EU members, he stated.

Commenting on visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens travelling to the EU, Jeremic stated that under the Serbian Constitution defines that all citizens are of equal rights, including Kosovo Albanians.

It also defines the territory of Serbia and all citizens living on that territory are entitled to a Serbian passport, he said.

True, under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 a special administrative regime is in force in one part of the Serbian territory. Administrative capacities of Serbia are limited in that part of our territory, which is why additional security mechanisms are necessary there, Jeremic explained.

Speaking on Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jeremic criticised EU High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina Valentine Inzka by saying that Serbia is one of the guarantors of the Dayton Peace Accords and supports Bosnia-Herzegovina’s territorial integrity.

We think there is no more need for the position of the High Representative within the Bosnian system as the High Representative has absolutistic competences that are decided on abroad, the Serbian Foreign Minister stressed.