Serbia demands immediate halt to UNMIK-EULEX transfer

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic addressed the UN Security Council in New York today. He once again pointed to the dangerous consequences of Kosovo's unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of indepedence, Beta news agency reports. Serbia demands immediate halt to UNMIK-EULEX transfer Jeremic also told the Security Council ambassador that the proclamation violates the foundations on which the international system functions. "Serbia will not accept imposed solutions which violate our legitimate national interests," Jeremic said, during the Kosovo session, called at Serbia's request. UN Resolution 1244 must be respected in its entirety, as it gives UNMIK a clear mandate in Kosovo, Jeremic said, and added that Serbia opposes a transfer of jurisdiction from UNMIK to any other body, demanding an immediate halt to activities designed to that end. The foreign minister expressed regret that some European countries have teamed up to establish a police and judicial mission, EULEX, and associated International Steering Group, ISG. Both, Jeremic reminded, are implementing the Ahtisaari blueprint that was not approved by the Security Council – which is the only body authorized to give legitimacy to any international presence in Kosovo. "Therefore, Serbia considers both these bodies to be outside the parameters of Resolution 1244 and outside the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act principles," he told the session. Europe is welcome to Serbia, including to its southern province, Jeremic said, but it must have a clear legal mandate. He also said Serbia was looking toward the European Union, and called for overcoming of the current differences. "Serbia is ready to be a constructive partner in achieving regional peace, stability and reconciliation," the minister explained. Jeremic called on those countries that have recognized Kosovo's unilateral proclamation of independence to reexamine their decisions, at the same time urging on those who have decided against such a move to remain steadfast and help Serbia defend against undermining of the very foundation of the international system. "Have international relations been improved by snatching Kosovo away from a democratic country? Will Kosovo, as an entity in a vacuum where it cannot receive international legitimacy that springs from UN membership, be capable of achieving sustainable prosperity without Belgrade? Will regional stability and cooperation improve with a perverse choice our neighbors are forced to make between Kosovo and Serbia," Jeremic wondered. "As long as there are attempts to exclude Serbia, she will continue to turn to the UN and use all legitimate diplomatic and political means to continue to defend her sovereign rights," Jeremic continued. "We must start talking to one another honestly," he added. The minister also reminded that the majority of people in Serbia reacted to the unilateral secession in a dignified manner in a mass rally of Feb. 21, but added that a small number of those who gathered on that day turned to violence. He offered his apologies to those countries whose embassies were damaged during the riots and described the unrest as unacceptable. "Violence is not the answer. Not in Belgrade, not in Kosovska Mitrovica, not in Pristina. Nowhere in Serbia," Jeremic specified. Serbia wishes no ill to the Kosovo Albanians and sees "joint progress" as its vital interest, he said, adding that this was the reason Belgrade opted against an economic embargo on the province and also in favor of a clear policy not to use military force. "At the same time we will do all in our power to make sure Kosovo Serbs are not isolated in ghettos as they have been for the past eight years," Jeremic said. The minister voiced his Democratic Party (DS) official position when he said that the parliamentary vote that will likely take place in May will demonstrate differences on Serbia's European future, but that differences over Kosovo "do not exist". Vuk Jeremic (FoNet)

Serbia demands immediate halt to UNMIK-EULEX transfer

Jeremić also told the Security Council ambassador that the proclamation violates the foundations on which the international system functions.

"Serbia will not accept imposed solutions which violate our legitimate national interests," Jeremić said, during the Kosovo session, called at Serbia's request.

UN Resolution 1244 must be respected in its entirety, as it gives UNMIK a clear mandate in Kosovo, Jeremić said, and added that Serbia opposes a transfer of jurisdiction from UNMIK to any other body, demanding an immediate halt to activities designed to that end.

The foreign minister expressed regret that some European countries have teamed up to establish a police and judicial mission, EULEX, and associated International Steering Group, ISG.

Both, Jeremić reminded, are implementing the Ahtisaari blueprint that was not approved by the Security Council – which is the only body authorized to give legitimacy to any international presence in Kosovo.

"Therefore, Serbia considers both these bodies to be outside the parameters of Resolution 1244 and outside the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act principles," he told the session.

Europe is welcome to Serbia, including to its southern province, Jeremić said, but it must have a clear legal mandate.

He also said Serbia was looking toward the European Union, and called for overcoming of the current differences.

"Serbia is ready to be a constructive partner in achieving regional peace, stability and reconciliation," the minister explained.

Jeremić called on those countries that have recognized Kosovo's unilateral proclamation of independence to reexamine their decisions, at the same time urging on those who have decided against such a move to remain steadfast and help Serbia defend against undermining of the very foundation of the international system.

"Have international relations been improved by snatching Kosovo away from a democratic country? Will Kosovo, as an entity in a vacuum where it cannot receive international legitimacy that springs from UN membership, be capable of achieving sustainable prosperity without Belgrade? Will regional stability and cooperation improve with a perverse choice our neighbors are forced to make between Kosovo and Serbia," Jeremić wondered.

"As long as there are attempts to exclude Serbia, she will continue to turn to the UN and use all legitimate diplomatic and political means to continue to defend her sovereign rights," Jeremić continued.

"We must start talking to one another honestly," he added.

The minister also reminded that the majority of people in Serbia reacted to the unilateral secession in a dignified manner in a mass rally of Feb. 21, but added that a small number of those who gathered on that day turned to violence.

He offered his apologies to those countries whose embassies were damaged during the riots and described the unrest as unacceptable.

"Violence is not the answer. Not in Belgrade, not in Kosovska Mitrovica, not in Priština. Nowhere in Serbia," Jeremić specified.

Serbia wishes no ill to the Kosovo Albanians and sees "joint progress" as its vital interest, he said, adding that this was the reason Belgrade opted against an economic embargo on the province and also in favor of a clear policy not to use military force.

"At the same time we will do all in our power to make sure Kosovo Serbs are not isolated in ghettos as they have been for the past eight years," Jeremić said.

The minister voiced his Democratic Party (DS) official position when he said that the parliamentary vote that will likely take place in May will demonstrate differences on Serbia's European future, but that differences over Kosovo "do not exist".