Jeremić: Stance on Kosovo principled, firm

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told Moscow-based daily Komsomolskaya Pravda that Serbia's stance on Kosovo was principled and firm. He explained that the stance was based on the country's Constitution and the international law which included the UN opinion and UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Jeremic: Stance on Kosovo principled, firm “We are ready for talks on Kosovo's future status, but the framework for talks is based on the Serbian Constitution, the resolutions passed by the Serbian parliament and international law,” the Serbian minister told the Russian daily, adding that Serbian negotiators had been given these instructions. Talking about the essence of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, the Serbian foreign minister said a series of technical issues were being discussed right now in order to make the life of the people in Kosovo easier. “Serbia has prepared a list of possible solutions for each of these issues, which do not contradict our constitutional position on Kosovo neither in the legal nor in the political sense,” Jeremic stressed. Pointing out that Serbia is concerned for its citizens living in Kosovo, the minister said the situation was the most difficult in enclaves in southern Kosovo and that Belgrade was trying to help them in every way possible - financially, economically, by sending building material, schoolbooks, etc. He also welcomed Russia's humanitarian support to Kosovo Serbs. When asked if Serbia overcame the final obstacle on the way to the EU by arresting war crimes indictee Ratko Mladic, Jeremic said not all obstacles had been removed and Serbia could expect the EU to raise its accession criteria. He added that in regards to political hurdles, a lot would depend on political circumstances surrounding the EU itself. “The economic crisis in the EU is dampening the enthusiasm some EU member states have for enlargement,” the foreign minister pointed out. Asked if Serbia's security policy is closer to NATO or the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which Russia is a member of, Jeremic said it was based primarily on the position of military neutrality. “Serbia is not a member and does not intend to become a member of any of the existing defense alliances,” the Serbian FM noted. “Since the majority of Serbian people support this policy, we have no intention of changing it. We cooperate closely with all countries and do not divide them into one group or another,” Jeremic concluded. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

Jeremić: Stance on Kosovo principled, firm

“We are ready for talks on Kosovo's future status, but the framework for talks is based on the Serbian Constitution, the resolutions passed by the Serbian parliament and international law,” the Serbian minister told the Russian daily, adding that Serbian negotiators had been given these instructions.

Talking about the essence of the talks between Belgrade and Priština, the Serbian foreign minister said a series of technical issues were being discussed right now in order to make the life of the people in Kosovo easier.

“Serbia has prepared a list of possible solutions for each of these issues, which do not contradict our constitutional position on Kosovo neither in the legal nor in the political sense,” Jeremić stressed.

Pointing out that Serbia is concerned for its citizens living in Kosovo, the minister said the situation was the most difficult in enclaves in southern Kosovo and that Belgrade was trying to help them in every way possible - financially, economically, by sending building material, schoolbooks, etc.

He also welcomed Russia's humanitarian support to Kosovo Serbs.

When asked if Serbia overcame the final obstacle on the way to the EU by arresting war crimes indictee Ratko Mladić, Jeremić said not all obstacles had been removed and Serbia could expect the EU to raise its accession criteria.

He added that in regards to political hurdles, a lot would depend on political circumstances surrounding the EU itself.

“The economic crisis in the EU is dampening the enthusiasm some EU member states have for enlargement,” the foreign minister pointed out.

Asked if Serbia's security policy is closer to NATO or the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which Russia is a member of, Jeremić said it was based primarily on the position of military neutrality.

“Serbia is not a member and does not intend to become a member of any of the existing defense alliances,” the Serbian FM noted.

“Since the majority of Serbian people support this policy, we have no intention of changing it. We cooperate closely with all countries and do not divide them into one group or another,” Jeremić concluded.