Jeremić: Secession won't be legalized

FM Vuk Jeremic says the advisory opinion of the ICJ, "no matter how balanced", should not be expected to offer international legal support for secession. On Thursday in The Hague, the top UN court will announce its ruling in the case of the legality under international law of the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration. The ruling will come in the shape of an unbinding advisory opinion. Jeremic: Secession won't be legalized "However, we have to be ready for everything, but one thing is certain - Serbia will not change its position regarding Kosovo' unilateral declaration of independence and necessity of a compromise. Our fight for such a solution will probably be long and difficult, but we will not give up," Jeremic told Tanjug in Belgrade on Wednesday. The foreign minister will be at the ICJ headquarters tomorrow for the reading of the ruling. Jeremic expressed expectation that the advisory opinion will open possibility to Serbia to prove before the UN General Assembly in autumn that its policy is righteous. "The only way to reach the compromise solution is through negotiations, and I hope that the majority of countries, which are to take part in the debate in New York, will share Serbia's stand," Jeremic said. He pointed out that at the moment, a majority of UN member states supports Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that Belgrade will have a difficult task to secure adoption of a resolution in the UN General Assembly since many countries will previously be under pressure to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. When asked whether the resolution that Serbia plans to present before the UN General Assembly will result in confrontations with states that have recognized Kosovo's independence, including the U.S. and most influential EU members, Jeremic underscored that Serbia "does not wish to come into conflict with anyone, including those who decided to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence". Asked whether he worried that violence would escalate in Kosovo and whether Belgrade can guarantee safety to the non-Albanian population in the province, Jeremic stated that "Serbia will definitely not tolerate any unilateral and violent attempts to change the reality". Earlier today, media quoted Vuk Jeremic as saying that Serbia expected new status negotiations. However, Kosovo Albanians remain firm on their stance that "Kosovo’s independence is irreversible, regardless of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision, but that negotiations over technical issue could be held". The Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration was made in early 2008, and Serbia rejected it as an illegal act of secession. Jeremic said that Serbia expects that new negotiations would be possible after the ICJ opinion is given. “We believe that a solution of compromise on the future status of Kosovo is necessary for long-term and sustainable peace and stability in the Balkans, and negotiations are the only way to reach such a solution, therefore, Thursday would be an important day for international order,” Jeremic said. Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, however, who is currently in Washington meeting with U.S. officials, said that he expects that the ICJ decision would support "Kosovo’s independence". However, he said that regardless of the decision, "Kosovo’s independence is now irreversible and not up for discussion". “Our message from Washington is clear. Kosovo exists as a sovereign, independent, democratic state. It existed yesterday and it exists today, it will exist tomorrow and it will exist forever. The United States take pride in the values that they represent. And the citizens of Kosovo are proud of their culture, multiethnic identity, history and hope for a future that would be fulfilling for all of us,” Thaci was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, International Crisis Group (ICG) Balkan Director Marko Prelec said that the EU would try to use the ICJ decision to improve relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which are needed for the European integration of the region. “Many countries are waiting for the ICJ opinion in order to make a decision on recognizing Kosovo. Some of these governments will act as soon as they hear the decision, which will be that the independence should be recognized,” Prelec was quoted. In The Hague, ICJ Secretary Andrei Poskakukhin that all countries that participated in the debate before the ICJ in the Kosovo case are expected to be present for the decision. There are more than 80 journalists, television crews and photographers from all around the world that would be following the reading of the ruling, scheduled for 15:00 CET on Thursday. Vuk Jeremic (Beta, file)

Jeremić: Secession won't be legalized

"However, we have to be ready for everything, but one thing is certain - Serbia will not change its position regarding Kosovo' unilateral declaration of independence and necessity of a compromise. Our fight for such a solution will probably be long and difficult, but we will not give up," Jeremić told Tanjug in Belgrade on Wednesday.

The foreign minister will be at the ICJ headquarters tomorrow for the reading of the ruling.

Jeremić expressed expectation that the advisory opinion will open possibility to Serbia to prove before the UN General Assembly in autumn that its policy is righteous.

"The only way to reach the compromise solution is through negotiations, and I hope that the majority of countries, which are to take part in the debate in New York, will share Serbia's stand," Jeremić said.

He pointed out that at the moment, a majority of UN member states supports Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that Belgrade will have a difficult task to secure adoption of a resolution in the UN General Assembly since many countries will previously be under pressure to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

When asked whether the resolution that Serbia plans to present before the UN General Assembly will result in confrontations with states that have recognized Kosovo's independence, including the U.S. and most influential EU members, Jeremić underscored that Serbia "does not wish to come into conflict with anyone, including those who decided to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence".

Asked whether he worried that violence would escalate in Kosovo and whether Belgrade can guarantee safety to the non-Albanian population in the province, Jeremić stated that "Serbia will definitely not tolerate any unilateral and violent attempts to change the reality".

Earlier today, media quoted Vuk Jeremić as saying that Serbia expected new status negotiations.

However, Kosovo Albanians remain firm on their stance that "Kosovo’s independence is irreversible, regardless of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) decision, but that negotiations over technical issue could be held".

The Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration was made in early 2008, and Serbia rejected it as an illegal act of secession.

Jeremić said that Serbia expects that new negotiations would be possible after the ICJ opinion is given.

“We believe that a solution of compromise on the future status of Kosovo is necessary for long-term and sustainable peace and stability in the Balkans, and negotiations are the only way to reach such a solution, therefore, Thursday would be an important day for international order,” Jeremić said.

Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, however, who is currently in Washington meeting with U.S. officials, said that he expects that the ICJ decision would support "Kosovo’s independence".

However, he said that regardless of the decision, "Kosovo’s independence is now irreversible and not up for discussion".

“Our message from Washington is clear. Kosovo exists as a sovereign, independent, democratic state. It existed yesterday and it exists today, it will exist tomorrow and it will exist forever. The United States take pride in the values that they represent. And the citizens of Kosovo are proud of their culture, multiethnic identity, history and hope for a future that would be fulfilling for all of us,” Thaci was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, International Crisis Group (ICG) Balkan Director Marko Prelec said that the EU would try to use the ICJ decision to improve relations between Belgrade and Priština, which are needed for the European integration of the region.

“Many countries are waiting for the ICJ opinion in order to make a decision on recognizing Kosovo. Some of these governments will act as soon as they hear the decision, which will be that the independence should be recognized,” Prelec was quoted.

In The Hague, ICJ Secretary Andrei Poskakukhin that all countries that participated in the debate before the ICJ in the Kosovo case are expected to be present for the decision.

There are more than 80 journalists, television crews and photographers from all around the world that would be following the reading of the ruling, scheduled for 15:00 CET on Thursday.