“Kovačević decision made in NY, not Belgrade”

The decision to issue a passport to Miladin Kovacevic was not made in Belgrade, but at the Serbian consulate in New York, says Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. “Our internal disciplinary process unambiguously shows that there was no consultation with anyone in Belgrade. The decision to issue travel documents was made on the spot, in New York,” said Jeremic, speaking to daily Vecernje Novosti. “Kovacevic decision made in NY, not Belgrade” He added that the ministry had “reacted with lightening speed,” ascertaining the disciplinary responsibility of Consul Slobodan Nenadovic and Vice-Consul Igor Milosevic, who were promptly suspended. Jeremic believes that the government will have the support of citizens in resolving the Kovacevic case, “as Serbia’s primary interest is not to have open issues with influential states in the world, unless it is necessary.” The minister emphasized that to have a productive discussion about any delicate matter it was important that not every single moment should be “under the public microscope.” That meant that the classification of the Kovacevic case as a state secret would be removed at the end of the process. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet, archive) “Hague ruling will not affect ICJ” Jeremic said that the steep sentences recently issued to former Serbian leaders would not affect proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration. “That will not influence the proceedings. The legal argument that Serbia has long been seriously preparing does not dispute that terrible things happened during the 90s and the NATO intervention itself. But, regardless of that, unilaterally declaring secession from an internationally recognized state is not in keeping with international law,” he said.

“Kovačević decision made in NY, not Belgrade”

He added that the ministry had “reacted with lightening speed,” ascertaining the disciplinary responsibility of Consul Slobodan Nenadović and Vice-Consul Igor Milošević, who were promptly suspended.

Jeremić believes that the government will have the support of citizens in resolving the Kovačević case, “as Serbia’s primary interest is not to have open issues with influential states in the world, unless it is necessary.”

The minister emphasized that to have a productive discussion about any delicate matter it was important that not every single moment should be “under the public microscope.”

That meant that the classification of the Kovačević case as a state secret would be removed at the end of the process.

“Hague ruling will not affect ICJ”

Jeremić said that the steep sentences recently issued to former Serbian leaders would not affect proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration.

“That will not influence the proceedings. The legal argument that Serbia has long been seriously preparing does not dispute that terrible things happened during the 90s and the NATO intervention itself. But, regardless of that, unilaterally declaring secession from an internationally recognized state is not in keeping with international law,” he said.