FM: Agreement on Sarajevo conference

FM Vuk Jeremic said that an agreement has been reached on the manner in which Kosovo Albanian officials will be represented at the Sarajevo conference. Jeremic said that the Pristina government will be represented at the regional conference in accordance with Resolution 1244. FM: Agreement on Sarajevo conference “A firm agreement has been reached with the Spanish organizers, which was confirmed for us in a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, that the format of the eventual participation of the temporary Pristina institutions in Sarajevo will be in accordance with Resolution 1244, with the presence of UNMIK,” he said. He said that the EU-Western Balkans conference is especially important considering the “growing skepticism in some parts of the EU regarding the continuation of the enlargement process” in reaction to the economic crisis. Jeremic said that Serbia will do everything it can to make sure that the conference is successful, and said that he hopes that Pristina will decide to participate as well. He said, however, that Serbia will insist that Kosovo will not be able to be represented as an independent state. “That is our red line legally and politically, the red line that cannot be crosses…Not in Sarajevo, or anywhere else,” he said. “That will already be clear tomorrow at the meeting of the UN Security Council. Serbia will be represented independently behind a sign that has the name of our country, while the officials of the temporary institutions of Pristina will be led by (UNMIK Chief) Lamberto Zannier and their sign will only state his first and last name,” Jeremic said. He said that Serbia has analyzed the coming report of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon regarding Kosovo and that Belgrade will be “pointing out all omissions” in the report. “Unfortunately, the situation on the ground has gotten worse since the last report of the Secretary General—mostly in the situation of the Serbs and other non-Albanian residents in the province. We will give details on this at the meeting,” he said, adding that the meeting is expected to be very tense, considering that it might be the last one before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gives its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence. He also said that the decision of the ICJ could come as soon as the summer, which is not ideal since the summer is considered a “dead season” for diplomacy, but added that Serbia would be prepared regardless. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet)

FM: Agreement on Sarajevo conference

“A firm agreement has been reached with the Spanish organizers, which was confirmed for us in a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, that the format of the eventual participation of the temporary Priština institutions in Sarajevo will be in accordance with Resolution 1244, with the presence of UNMIK,” he said.

He said that the EU-Western Balkans conference is especially important considering the “growing skepticism in some parts of the EU regarding the continuation of the enlargement process” in reaction to the economic crisis.

Jeremić said that Serbia will do everything it can to make sure that the conference is successful, and said that he hopes that Priština will decide to participate as well.

He said, however, that Serbia will insist that Kosovo will not be able to be represented as an independent state.

“That is our red line legally and politically, the red line that cannot be crosses…Not in Sarajevo, or anywhere else,” he said.

“That will already be clear tomorrow at the meeting of the UN Security Council. Serbia will be represented independently behind a sign that has the name of our country, while the officials of the temporary institutions of Priština will be led by (UNMIK Chief) Lamberto Zannier and their sign will only state his first and last name,” Jeremić said.

He said that Serbia has analyzed the coming report of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon regarding Kosovo and that Belgrade will be “pointing out all omissions” in the report.

“Unfortunately, the situation on the ground has gotten worse since the last report of the Secretary General—mostly in the situation of the Serbs and other non-Albanian residents in the province. We will give details on this at the meeting,” he said, adding that the meeting is expected to be very tense, considering that it might be the last one before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gives its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence.

He also said that the decision of the ICJ could come as soon as the summer, which is not ideal since the summer is considered a “dead season” for diplomacy, but added that Serbia would be prepared regardless.