Kosovo has divided Europe, says Jeremić

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, DS, has said in Strasbourg that Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration has divided not just the region, but all of Europe. “The unilateral declaration of independence has solved nothing, has not made things better, has not consolidated values, has not improved cooperation, has not contributed to reconciliation, nor contributed to stability or security,“ Jeremic said in a speech to the Council of Europe’s Ministerial Committee. Kosovo has divided Europe, says Jeremic The foreign minister said that instead of joint work to bring Belgrade and Pristina closer within a single country with maximum autonomy for the province’s Albanians, a solution had been imposed that was destroying the very essence of Europe’s system of values. “This has harmed Serbia, the Western Balkans and Europe. Yes, Europe. The unilateral independence declaration has driven a wedge between us all, and there’s no pointing denying it,“ he lamented. Jeremic said that the only way to overcome this rift, the only way to remain dedicated to European values and reach a sustainable solution was a return to the negotiating table until a mutually acceptable solution was found. “Negotiations that are successful, led with good intentions and in the spirit of compromise, on the basis of our common values and respecting international law, must now become the focus of our efforts, our hopes and our resolve,“ the foreign minister stressed. He said that Serbia was committed to cooperation with all Council of Europe members with the goal of enhancing prosperity and Europe’s security without any a dividing line. “I am delighted that that commitment has been strengthened by the recent signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the EU. I believe that my country can proudly and confidently claim for really the first time that the contours of our European future have been firmly drawn,“ Jeremic concluded. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet, archive) Jeremic: SAA, Kosovo status unrelated Vuk Jeremic says that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU has nothing to do with Kosovo’s status. “Attacks on the SAA by claiming that it recognizes Kosovo are pure fallacy,” the foreign minister told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik. He added that all 27 countries that had signed the SAA with Serbia had done so “completely outside the context” of resolving the future status of Kosovo. “Therefore, the SAA is completely neutral in terms of status, and it clearly states in the document that all matters tied to the future of Kosovo will be resolved through Resolution 1244,” Jeremic insisted. He said that if the SAA was annulled, then there would be no European integration, no visa-free travel or free trade regimes. “At the same time, it must be clear that there is a notorious misconception that Serbia will strengthen its capacities to defend Kosovo by distancing itself from the EU. The opposite is in fact true,” the foreign minister underlined.

Kosovo has divided Europe, says Jeremić

The foreign minister said that instead of joint work to bring Belgrade and Priština closer within a single country with maximum autonomy for the province’s Albanians, a solution had been imposed that was destroying the very essence of Europe’s system of values.

“This has harmed Serbia, the Western Balkans and Europe. Yes, Europe. The unilateral independence declaration has driven a wedge between us all, and there’s no pointing denying it,“ he lamented.

Jeremić said that the only way to overcome this rift, the only way to remain dedicated to European values and reach a sustainable solution was a return to the negotiating table until a mutually acceptable solution was found.

“Negotiations that are successful, led with good intentions and in the spirit of compromise, on the basis of our common values and respecting international law, must now become the focus of our efforts, our hopes and our resolve,“ the foreign minister stressed.

He said that Serbia was committed to cooperation with all Council of Europe members with the goal of enhancing prosperity and Europe’s security without any a dividing line.

“I am delighted that that commitment has been strengthened by the recent signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and the EU. I believe that my country can proudly and confidently claim for really the first time that the contours of our European future have been firmly drawn,“ Jeremić concluded.

Jeremić: SAA, Kosovo status unrelated

Vuk Jeremić says that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU has nothing to do with Kosovo’s status.

“Attacks on the SAA by claiming that it recognizes Kosovo are pure fallacy,” the foreign minister told Novi Sad daily Dnevnik.

He added that all 27 countries that had signed the SAA with Serbia had done so “completely outside the context” of resolving the future status of Kosovo.

“Therefore, the SAA is completely neutral in terms of status, and it clearly states in the document that all matters tied to the future of Kosovo will be resolved through Resolution 1244,” Jeremić insisted.

He said that if the SAA was annulled, then there would be no European integration, no visa-free travel or free trade regimes.

“At the same time, it must be clear that there is a notorious misconception that Serbia will strengthen its capacities to defend Kosovo by distancing itself from the EU. The opposite is in fact true,” the foreign minister underlined.