Serbia will prove “it is not only culprit”

NEW YORK UNGA President Vuk Jeremic is convinced that a public debate on the Hague Tribunal will show that Serbia is not the only culprit in wars in ex-Yugoslavia. “Things that will be said in this debate will become an official UN document and will be distributed to all international addresses,” he stressed. Serbia will prove “it is not only culprit” "It remains recorded as an official document for those who will write the history tomorrow,” he said, adding that this would be Serbia’s chance to respond to Hague Tribunal’s message “that there is only one culprit and only one criminal side and that is the Serbian side.” He said he did not believe that majority of participants would confirm Serbia’s view at the debate on April 10, noting that the he had exercised his sovereign right as the UN General president when he scheduled the debate. He said that some did not like it and that there had been attempts to pressure Serbia into giving up on the debate. "There will be no more such attempts because we reacted to the insinuation that we could give up in such a way that I don not expect that anyone will waste their time trying to reassure us," the UNGA president said. According to him, the debate will consist of two parts – UN member states will participate in the first part and NGOs, prominent experts and public figures will take part in the second part. “There have been speculations whether it is useful, if anyone will take part in it. I can confirm that all relevant member states will participate. Of course, Serbia will participate as well," he explained. UNGA president expects that one of the senior Serbian officials will speak at the debate. He stressed that he would not address the participants and that therefore there was no room for claims and accusations that he had called the debate as an attempt to promote himself. Asked if he would be able to persuade those UN members whose position was that the the Hague Tribunal’s acquittals were done deal, Jeremic said: "I think there is no need to convince them, they will participate. It is an official UN document, whether they like it or not. I am convinced that everyone will participate." Commenting on his appointment as the UNGA president he said: "We managed to get the majority of the world’s votes. It was kind of a vote of confidence in Serbia in the international community, a test to show how the world sees us today and I am glad that we have successfully passed the test. " Jeremic said that Serbia's position in the world was now "more visible than ever before and certainly more visible than any time in the last 20 years." Vuk Jeremic (Beta) Tanjug

Serbia will prove “it is not only culprit”

"It remains recorded as an official document for those who will write the history tomorrow,” he said, adding that this would be Serbia’s chance to respond to Hague Tribunal’s message “that there is only one culprit and only one criminal side and that is the Serbian side.”

He said he did not believe that majority of participants would confirm Serbia’s view at the debate on April 10, noting that the he had exercised his sovereign right as the UN General president when he scheduled the debate.

He said that some did not like it and that there had been attempts to pressure Serbia into giving up on the debate.

"There will be no more such attempts because we reacted to the insinuation that we could give up in such a way that I don not expect that anyone will waste their time trying to reassure us," the UNGA president said.

According to him, the debate will consist of two parts – UN member states will participate in the first part and NGOs, prominent experts and public figures will take part in the second part.

“There have been speculations whether it is useful, if anyone will take part in it. I can confirm that all relevant member states will participate. Of course, Serbia will participate as well," he explained.

UNGA president expects that one of the senior Serbian officials will speak at the debate.

He stressed that he would not address the participants and that therefore there was no room for claims and accusations that he had called the debate as an attempt to promote himself.

Asked if he would be able to persuade those UN members whose position was that the the Hague Tribunal’s acquittals were done deal, Jeremić said:

"I think there is no need to convince them, they will participate. It is an official UN document, whether they like it or not. I am convinced that everyone will participate."

Commenting on his appointment as the UNGA president he said:

"We managed to get the majority of the world’s votes. It was kind of a vote of confidence in Serbia in the international community, a test to show how the world sees us today and I am glad that we have successfully passed the test. "

Jeremić said that Serbia's position in the world was now "more visible than ever before and certainly more visible than any time in the last 20 years."