Serbian FM meets with UN secretary-general

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic met in New York on Thursday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. They discussed a Serbian draft resolution on Kosovo, Beta reports. Serbian FM meets with UN secretary-general "The secretary-general said he plans to closely coordinate the next steps with the European Union, which has offered to facilitate a process of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade," the news agency quoted a statement submitted to it from Ban's office. In the discussion, the UN secretary-general said that he continues to appeal to all sides to support constructive dialogue and the settlement of all remaining issues, while encouraging political stability and discouraging provocations, it was stated in the announcement. On July 28, Serbia submitted to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution in relation to the advisory opinion expressed by the International Court of Justice, calling for the use of dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution to all open issues. After meeting with Ban, Jeremic told Tanjug news agency that Serbia is committed to finding a compromise solution for Kosovo. "We believe this can be achieved only by peaceful means, through negotiations, rather than by unilateral moves," the minister was quoted as saying. Jeremic stated that Serbia requests UN's support for reaching a compromise through negotiations, as evident in the content of the resolution that the country submitted to the UN General Assembly, which will be on the Assembly's agenda in September. "Under the new circumstances, it will be extremely difficult to secure a majority in the UN General Assembly, but we will do our best to achieve that. It is of utmost importance to preserve peace and stability in the territory of the province," Jeremic said. He also called on the UN to remain actively engaged in the Kosovo issue, as it requires close cooperation of all international factors. As Tanjug learned in New York, Kosovo Albanian authorities sent a letter to all UN member states that have not recognized Kosovo, requesting from them to do so and interpreting the ICJ's opinion as a confirmation of the accordance with international law of the declaration of independence of Kosovo. Jeremic will meet in New York with ambassadors of the countries that are considered to be close to recognizing Kosovo. Serbian President Boris Tadic had sent a letter to those countries requesting them not to recognize the independence of the southern Serbian province. Jeremic is also planned to address the Non-Aligned Movement Forum on Thursday. There is a great interest in the session of the UN Security Council scheduled for Tuesday of next week, at which the UN Secretary General's report on Kosovo will be read, and a large number of observers have applied to attend the meeting.

Serbian FM meets with UN secretary-general

"The secretary-general said he plans to closely coordinate the next steps with the European Union, which has offered to facilitate a process of dialogue between Priština and Belgrade," the news agency quoted a statement submitted to it from Ban's office.

In the discussion, the UN secretary-general said that he continues to appeal to all sides to support constructive dialogue and the settlement of all remaining issues, while encouraging political stability and discouraging provocations, it was stated in the announcement.

On July 28, Serbia submitted to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution in relation to the advisory opinion expressed by the International Court of Justice, calling for the use of dialogue to reach a mutually acceptable solution to all open issues.

After meeting with Ban, Jeremić told Tanjug news agency that Serbia is committed to finding a compromise solution for Kosovo.

"We believe this can be achieved only by peaceful means, through negotiations, rather than by unilateral moves," the minister was quoted as saying.

Jeremić stated that Serbia requests UN's support for reaching a compromise through negotiations, as evident in the content of the resolution that the country submitted to the UN General Assembly, which will be on the Assembly's agenda in September.

"Under the new circumstances, it will be extremely difficult to secure a majority in the UN General Assembly, but we will do our best to achieve that. It is of utmost importance to preserve peace and stability in the territory of the province," Jeremić said.

He also called on the UN to remain actively engaged in the Kosovo issue, as it requires close cooperation of all international factors.

As Tanjug learned in New York, Kosovo Albanian authorities sent a letter to all UN member states that have not recognized Kosovo, requesting from them to do so and interpreting the ICJ's opinion as a confirmation of the accordance with international law of the declaration of independence of Kosovo.

Jeremić will meet in New York with ambassadors of the countries that are considered to be close to recognizing Kosovo. Serbian President Boris Tadić had sent a letter to those countries requesting them not to recognize the independence of the southern Serbian province.

Jeremić is also planned to address the Non-Aligned Movement Forum on Thursday.

There is a great interest in the session of the UN Security Council scheduled for Tuesday of next week, at which the UN Secretary General's report on Kosovo will be read, and a large number of observers have applied to attend the meeting.