FM: Kosovo is Serbia’s Jerusalem

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that Serbia should not be forced to choose between EU membership and Kosovo. “I am afraid that the ones that believe that Serbia would choose Europe in that case and disown Kosovo are not right,” Jeremic said. FM: Kosovo is Serbia’s Jerusalem “Kosovo has a deep historical and spiritual meaning for the Serbian people, it is, in a way, our Jerusalem. We cannot accept unilateral conclusions by those governing in Pristina,” he said. He said that Serbia is ready to negotiate a compromise with the goal of guaranteeing stability for the entire region. “We are not categorically rejecting any proposals,” Jeremic said, reminding that Belgrade did not use force or implement sanctions when Kosovo declared independence unilaterally. Jeremic said that Serbia is aware of the fact that Europe and the entire world are going through tough times, but that does not change Serbia’s goal of EU integration, which will remain the central project of the government. Regarding the upcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo, scheduled for June 2, he said that Serbia’s stance at the conference will be clear and in accordance with the constitution, that Kosovo is a part of Serbia. He said that the Greek crisis and other serious economic turbulence is “draining energy” from EU enlargement support and efforts. “However, if they forget about the Western Balkans, future crises are still possible and the geo-political price will be high. Whoever acts preventively is saving themselves the job of fixing things after the problems erupt,” Jeremic said. Asked if that is a threat, Jeremic said that there is no explosion set to take place in the Balkans, but that the voices in the EU that say that enlargement will take a break once Croatia joins in 2011 are discouraging. “If these same voices decide to accept Turkey into the EU, then many ask if that means that Serbia is once again tied to the Turkish sphere of influence, like in past centuries? I hope that we will not have to join any other camp other than the EU. We have been working hard for that,” Jeremic said. He said that he will once against stress the importance of enlargement at his coming meetings in Berlin. “The official stance of the German government is that it supports the membership of Serbia. But, the consensus of all 27 member-states is needed on that path, on which Germany has a strong influence,” Jeremic said. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet archive)

FM: Kosovo is Serbia’s Jerusalem

“Kosovo has a deep historical and spiritual meaning for the Serbian people, it is, in a way, our Jerusalem. We cannot accept unilateral conclusions by those governing in Priština,” he said.

He said that Serbia is ready to negotiate a compromise with the goal of guaranteeing stability for the entire region.

“We are not categorically rejecting any proposals,” Jeremić said, reminding that Belgrade did not use force or implement sanctions when Kosovo declared independence unilaterally.

Jeremić said that Serbia is aware of the fact that Europe and the entire world are going through tough times, but that does not change Serbia’s goal of EU integration, which will remain the central project of the government.

Regarding the upcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo, scheduled for June 2, he said that Serbia’s stance at the conference will be clear and in accordance with the constitution, that Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

He said that the Greek crisis and other serious economic turbulence is “draining energy” from EU enlargement support and efforts.

“However, if they forget about the Western Balkans, future crises are still possible and the geo-political price will be high. Whoever acts preventively is saving themselves the job of fixing things after the problems erupt,” Jeremić said.

Asked if that is a threat, Jeremić said that there is no explosion set to take place in the Balkans, but that the voices in the EU that say that enlargement will take a break once Croatia joins in 2011 are discouraging.

“If these same voices decide to accept Turkey into the EU, then many ask if that means that Serbia is once again tied to the Turkish sphere of influence, like in past centuries? I hope that we will not have to join any other camp other than the EU. We have been working hard for that,” Jeremić said.

He said that he will once against stress the importance of enlargement at his coming meetings in Berlin.

“The official stance of the German government is that it supports the membership of Serbia. But, the consensus of all 27 member-states is needed on that path, on which Germany has a strong influence,” Jeremić said.