President: Conflicts should be resolved through dialogue

Serbian President Boris Tadic said Wednesday in New York that he would call on the world statesmen to support dialogue as the only way to resolve conflicts. Tadic is in New York taking part in the 66th UN General Assembly. President: Conflicts should be resolved through dialogue He said that no artificial deadlines should be imposed on the sides in the process that should be carried out in a manner that respected the dignity of all sides. “I want to say to our citizens that we are going to play for our national team and defend our interests here,” Tadic told journalists in New York. The Serbian president said that the UN General Assembly session would be a difficult one and that he did not expect the talks to be easy. “On the contrary, I expect significant difficulties in the talks with EU High Representative Cathy Ashton and U.S. Secretary of State of Hillary Clinton, and perhaps also with U.S. President Barrack Obama and with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen,” he stressed. “However, we know where our red lines lie and what our principled position is. It is based on a policy of peace and we want to find a compromise solution,” Tadic said. “I will support my argument by referring to the expositions of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and U.S. President Barack Obama that call for resolution of conflicts through dialogue, without artificially imposed deadlines and in a manner that respects the dignity of both sides,” the Serbian president pointed out. He also said that finding a solution was possible even when it seemed quite impossible to achieve. Tadic said politicians and statesmen “should offer solutions flexible and intelligent enough to defend the interests of both sides. This is yet another thing that is possible when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija.” He said that there was room for everyone in Kosovo and that a rational and principled approach to conflict resolution could yield valid solutions. Tadic cautioned that any radicalized or extremist moves would be most detrimental to the interests of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo. “I wish to say to the citizens of Serbia in Kosovo that they should remain peaceful. Many would like to provoke them to a violent reaction and many opponents of the peaceful policy and of the search for a solution that could be good for both the Albanians and Serbs and for the entire region would like to use the situation to cause extreme and radicalized actions,” Tadic pointed out. He underscored “it would be the worst solution, which would affect the interests of Serbia and the Serbian people, especially of the Serbs in Kosovo, whose rights we shall defend here at the UN.” The pointed out that the Serbian diplomacy was greatly challenged by the fact that “the momentum of inertia established in the nineties (of the last century)” was still present. “It still exists today and it is adverse to the Serbian national interests and we are fighting against the inertia in international relations,” explained Tadic. Speaking about his upcoming meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the official luncheon that Ban organized for the world leaders gathered in New York, Tadic stressed he would recall the UN chief's six-point plan that had been the basis for the establishment of the EULEX mission in Kosovo. “This mission, like all others, has to maintain a status-neutral position. I can see that some international mediators have been ignoring the report over the last few days, but Serbia will not give up on that plan, because it was the basis for the legalization and legitimization of the EULEX presence in Kosovo,” the Serbian president said. According to him, Serbia should not allow itself to be debated at international forums only in relation to the Kosovo issue. Serbia should also raise questions such as regional cooperation, cultural heritage protection and environmental protection, he said. “I object to Serbia being mentioned in international forums solely as a country characterized by problems it cannot get out of,” Tadic stated. The Serbian president Wednesday attended the opening of the General Debate of the 66th UN General Assembly. He will also attend a dinner hosted for all heads of delegations of the countries participating in the UN General Assembly, in the organization of the U.S. president. Tadic will meet separately with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radicova. Boris Tadic is seen in New York (FoNet) "Decision on Palestine's request after all arguments are heard" “The decision regarding a possible vote on the Palestinian request for membership in the UN will be taken these days, after all arguments on both sides, Palestinian and Israeli, are heard,” Tadic said on Wednesday in New York. He said he concurred with Obama’s position, who said that the issue of Palestinian membership in the UN should be resolved through dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian representatives. He repeated Obama's words that there was no shortcut for reaching a compromise solution, and that the dignity of both sides must be respected. “Palestinians and Israelis need to find a peaceful solution that complies with international law and principles set out in the UN,” the Serbian president said. He added that he fully agreed with Obama's speech, and that he expects that this principle would also be applied when it comes to Serbia, but noted that unfortunately, this had not happened yet. “A principled policy should be applied equally to all,” Tadic concluded.

President: Conflicts should be resolved through dialogue

He said that no artificial deadlines should be imposed on the sides in the process that should be carried out in a manner that respected the dignity of all sides.

“I want to say to our citizens that we are going to play for our national team and defend our interests here,” Tadić told journalists in New York.

The Serbian president said that the UN General Assembly session would be a difficult one and that he did not expect the talks to be easy.

“On the contrary, I expect significant difficulties in the talks with EU High Representative Cathy Ashton and U.S. Secretary of State of Hillary Clinton, and perhaps also with U.S. President Barrack Obama and with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen,” he stressed.

“However, we know where our red lines lie and what our principled position is. It is based on a policy of peace and we want to find a compromise solution,” Tadić said.

“I will support my argument by referring to the expositions of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff and U.S. President Barack Obama that call for resolution of conflicts through dialogue, without artificially imposed deadlines and in a manner that respects the dignity of both sides,” the Serbian president pointed out.

He also said that finding a solution was possible even when it seemed quite impossible to achieve.

Tadić said politicians and statesmen “should offer solutions flexible and intelligent enough to defend the interests of both sides. This is yet another thing that is possible when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija.”

He said that there was room for everyone in Kosovo and that a rational and principled approach to conflict resolution could yield valid solutions.

Tadić cautioned that any radicalized or extremist moves would be most detrimental to the interests of Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo.

“I wish to say to the citizens of Serbia in Kosovo that they should remain peaceful. Many would like to provoke them to a violent reaction and many opponents of the peaceful policy and of the search for a solution that could be good for both the Albanians and Serbs and for the entire region would like to use the situation to cause extreme and radicalized actions,” Tadić pointed out.

He underscored “it would be the worst solution, which would affect the interests of Serbia and the Serbian people, especially of the Serbs in Kosovo, whose rights we shall defend here at the UN.”

The pointed out that the Serbian diplomacy was greatly challenged by the fact that “the momentum of inertia established in the nineties (of the last century)” was still present.

“It still exists today and it is adverse to the Serbian national interests and we are fighting against the inertia in international relations,” explained Tadić.

Speaking about his upcoming meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the official luncheon that Ban organized for the world leaders gathered in New York, Tadić stressed he would recall the UN chief's six-point plan that had been the basis for the establishment of the EULEX mission in Kosovo.

“This mission, like all others, has to maintain a status-neutral position. I can see that some international mediators have been ignoring the report over the last few days, but Serbia will not give up on that plan, because it was the basis for the legalization and legitimization of the EULEX presence in Kosovo,” the Serbian president said.

According to him, Serbia should not allow itself to be debated at international forums only in relation to the Kosovo issue. Serbia should also raise questions such as regional cooperation, cultural heritage protection and environmental protection, he said.

“I object to Serbia being mentioned in international forums solely as a country characterized by problems it cannot get out of,” Tadić stated.

The Serbian president Wednesday attended the opening of the General Debate of the 66th UN General Assembly.

He will also attend a dinner hosted for all heads of delegations of the countries participating in the UN General Assembly, in the organization of the U.S. president.

Tadić will meet separately with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičova.

"Decision on Palestine's request after all arguments are heard"

“The decision regarding a possible vote on the Palestinian request for membership in the UN will be taken these days, after all arguments on both sides, Palestinian and Israeli, are heard,” Tadić said on Wednesday in New York.

He said he concurred with Obama’s position, who said that the issue of Palestinian membership in the UN should be resolved through dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian representatives.

He repeated Obama's words that there was no shortcut for reaching a compromise solution, and that the dignity of both sides must be respected.

“Palestinians and Israelis need to find a peaceful solution that complies with international law and principles set out in the UN,” the Serbian president said.

He added that he fully agreed with Obama's speech, and that he expects that this principle would also be applied when it comes to Serbia, but noted that unfortunately, this had not happened yet.

“A principled policy should be applied equally to all,” Tadić concluded.