Jeremić: Anything but military force

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says Serbia will use all political, diplomatic, legal and economic means to defend Kosovo. In an interview with the BBC, Jeremic said that, in the event of negotiations ending and a unilateral declaration of independence, Serbia would be in the awkward position of having to use all means that are at the disposal of a sovereign and independent nation. Jeremic: Anything but military force He said that the current government would not “use military force under any circumstances.“ The foreign minister felt that it was a pity that Pristina was not exhibiting the same dedication. “Throughout the (negotiating) process you could hear: if things don’t get going after December 10, we should push ahead with Kosovo independence, forget the Security Council, forget everything, it has to happen and very quickly,“ he said. “Asked why it had to happen so quickly, they replied that ’there would be many problems in Kosovo.’ When we asked what they meant by that, whether someone would start shooting someone else, they replied, ’yes.’ Do we have to discuss all this down the barrel of a gun?“ wondered Jeremic. “I don’t even know whether it’s a good idea to speak publicly about the use of force, as it seems as if those who do nothing but threaten force are doing much better than we are,“ said the foreign minister. To the interviewer’s comment that the measures Serbia intends to take could lead to international isolation, he replied that “Serbia has no choice“, though he believed in the country's future in the EU. “Serbia will do everything it can to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its European future,“ said Jeremic. “We believe in our country’s future in the EU, and we feel that future will probably be the only way to once and for all assure peace and stability in the west Balkans,“ stressed the foreign minister. He added that he did not see any way of resolving the crisis in anything other than a European manner. “We’re not asking for Kosovo to integrate into our system. Essential autonomy means Kosovo taking care of its own business, but Serbia has not backed down from the symbolism of its sovereignty,“ Jeremic concluded.

Jeremić: Anything but military force

He said that the current government would not “use military force under any circumstances.“

The foreign minister felt that it was a pity that Priština was not exhibiting the same dedication.

“Throughout the (negotiating) process you could hear: if things don’t get going after December 10, we should push ahead with Kosovo independence, forget the Security Council, forget everything, it has to happen and very quickly,“ he said.

“Asked why it had to happen so quickly, they replied that ’there would be many problems in Kosovo.’ When we asked what they meant by that, whether someone would start shooting someone else, they replied, ’yes.’ Do we have to discuss all this down the barrel of a gun?“ wondered Jeremić.

“I don’t even know whether it’s a good idea to speak publicly about the use of force, as it seems as if those who do nothing but threaten force are doing much better than we are,“ said the foreign minister.

To the interviewer’s comment that the measures Serbia intends to take could lead to international isolation, he replied that “Serbia has no choice“, though he believed in the country's future in the EU.

“Serbia will do everything it can to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its European future,“ said Jeremić.

“We believe in our country’s future in the EU, and we feel that future will probably be the only way to once and for all assure peace and stability in the west Balkans,“ stressed the foreign minister.

He added that he did not see any way of resolving the crisis in anything other than a European manner.

“We’re not asking for Kosovo to integrate into our system. Essential autonomy means Kosovo taking care of its own business, but Serbia has not backed down from the symbolism of its sovereignty,“ Jeremić concluded.