Jeremić: Serbia can secure UN majority

FM Vuk Jeremic says the wave of recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral independence has been smaller than expected. Jeremic, DS, said that Serbia plans on submitting a proposal at the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly for sending a demand to the International Court of Justice, in order to confirm whether the unilateral proclamation was in accordance with international law. Jeremic: Serbia can secure UN majority “We think that we can secure a majority,” Jeremic said, in am international gathering in Belgrade called "Republic of Serbia – Foreign policy priorities". The minister said that the outgoing government must prepare the diplomatic field ahead of the September General Assembly meeting, but that the new government, which will be elected after May 11, will be responsible for deciding whether the initiative will be taken to New York. “It would be useful and smart for the future government to initiate it, but the future government will have the right to make that decision,” Jeremic said. He added that the long-term political goal of Serbia is to establish permanent peace and stability and the integration of the entire Western Balkans into the European Union. But achievement of this goal, according to Jeremic, has been made very difficult with the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral proclamation of independence. He said that Serbia has been relatively successful in its policy aimed at limiting the number of countries that are ready to recognize such secession. “The wave of recognition which took place after the unilateral declaration, is a lot smaller than anyone foresaw it would be,” Jeremic said. "When those who had supported independence of Kosovo realized that they could not put the issue before the UN Security Council, they decided to use a wave of recognitions of unilateral independence to create a situation in which independent Kosovo would become a strategic reality," he continued. To that purpose, strong pressure was imposed, Jeremic explained. According to the minister, the "factors of this policy are now nervous", because Serbia's diplomats are achieving results they did not expect, while the number of countries that had recognized the unilateral declaration remains "rather limited". He said that Serbia will continue to be very active diplomatically in the coming period. “Our goal is to keep the number of countries recognizing Kosovo at a minimum,” Jeremic said, adding that the UN gathering in September will also be very important for Serbia. Jeremic said that Serbia supports the presence of KFOR in Kosovo, and said that it is "very important for the international forces to maintain peace and stability and the protection of Serbs and other non-Albanians". He said that unilateral proclamation sets a precedent which can cause more similar problems in the region and world. Jeremic said that Serbia, along with a majority of other countries, will not recognize Kosovo’s independence. He called on the continuation of Kosovo discussions and the seeking of a compromise solution for the status of Kosovo that is acceptable to all sides. Jeremic, center, speaks at the gathering in Belgrade today (FoNet)

Jeremić: Serbia can secure UN majority

“We think that we can secure a majority,” Jeremić said, in am international gathering in Belgrade called "Republic of Serbia – Foreign policy priorities".

The minister said that the outgoing government must prepare the diplomatic field ahead of the September General Assembly meeting, but that the new government, which will be elected after May 11, will be responsible for deciding whether the initiative will be taken to New York.

“It would be useful and smart for the future government to initiate it, but the future government will have the right to make that decision,” Jeremić said.

He added that the long-term political goal of Serbia is to establish permanent peace and stability and the integration of the entire Western Balkans into the European Union.

But achievement of this goal, according to Jeremić, has been made very difficult with the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral proclamation of independence.

He said that Serbia has been relatively successful in its policy aimed at limiting the number of countries that are ready to recognize such secession.

“The wave of recognition which took place after the unilateral declaration, is a lot smaller than anyone foresaw it would be,” Jeremić said.

"When those who had supported independence of Kosovo realized that they could not put the issue before the UN Security Council, they decided to use a wave of recognitions of unilateral independence to create a situation in which independent Kosovo would become a strategic reality," he continued.

To that purpose, strong pressure was imposed, Jeremić explained.

According to the minister, the "factors of this policy are now nervous", because Serbia's diplomats are achieving results they did not expect, while the number of countries that had recognized the unilateral declaration remains "rather limited".

He said that Serbia will continue to be very active diplomatically in the coming period.

“Our goal is to keep the number of countries recognizing Kosovo at a minimum,” Jeremić said, adding that the UN gathering in September will also be very important for Serbia.

Jeremić said that Serbia supports the presence of KFOR in Kosovo, and said that it is "very important for the international forces to maintain peace and stability and the protection of Serbs and other non-Albanians".

He said that unilateral proclamation sets a precedent which can cause more similar problems in the region and world.

Jeremić said that Serbia, along with a majority of other countries, will not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

He called on the continuation of Kosovo discussions and the seeking of a compromise solution for the status of Kosovo that is acceptable to all sides.