Tadić addresses students at Columbia University

President Boris Tadic said that the U.S.’s support for Serbia’s European future could help forge a new U.S. policy towards Serbia and the region. In a speech to students and professors at Columbia University yesterday, Tadic said that the outcome of the global transformation in international relations would boil down to whether the international community was ready to begin seriously applying the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. Tadic addresses students at Columbia University Tadic pointed out that UN member states and responsible stakeholders must uncover ways for these basic democratic principles to become a stable and lasting political reality for all. "The starting point is the universal respect for international law," he said in his speech on the topic “Opportunity amidst Crisis: Consolidating the European Future of the Western Balkans”. The president underscored that Serbia, which was “an anchor of stability in the Western Balkans because of its insistence on the policy of consensus, which excludes unilateralism in international relations,” was ideal for EU membership. “Serbia's commitment to international law and regional stability is reflected in the country's wish for the process of determining the future status of Kosovo to be non-violent, in accordance with international law, and with the involvement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).” "The court must work without political pressures like new recognitions of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence," Tadic said. As he explained, by seeking the ICJ’s advisory opinion on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law, Serbia had put forward a new model for ethnic conflict resolution in the 21st century. "Serbia is determined to continue working closely with neighboring countries to ensure that regional peace is consolidated. As the strategic anchor of stability in the Western Balkans, Serbia will invest ever greater efforts to complete the democratic transformation of our part of Europe. So we can rise together, and succeed together," Tadic stressed. Referring to relations between Serbia and the U.S., the president said that this could set the stage for a reformulation of American policy towards Serbia and the rest of the Western Balkans, one that would hopefully take into account, more than it does now, the interests of Serbia as the central strategic factor of stability in the region. Boris Tadic (FoNet, archive)

Tadić addresses students at Columbia University

Tadić pointed out that UN member states and responsible stakeholders must uncover ways for these basic democratic principles to become a stable and lasting political reality for all.

"The starting point is the universal respect for international law," he said in his speech on the topic “Opportunity amidst Crisis: Consolidating the European Future of the Western Balkans”.

The president underscored that Serbia, which was “an anchor of stability in the Western Balkans because of its insistence on the policy of consensus, which excludes unilateralism in international relations,” was ideal for EU membership.

“Serbia's commitment to international law and regional stability is reflected in the country's wish for the process of determining the future status of Kosovo to be non-violent, in accordance with international law, and with the involvement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).”

"The court must work without political pressures like new recognitions of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence," Tadić said.

As he explained, by seeking the ICJ’s advisory opinion on whether Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was in accordance with international law, Serbia had put forward a new model for ethnic conflict resolution in the 21st century.

"Serbia is determined to continue working closely with neighboring countries to ensure that regional peace is consolidated. As the strategic anchor of stability in the Western Balkans, Serbia will invest ever greater efforts to complete the democratic transformation of our part of Europe. So we can rise together, and succeed together," Tadić stressed.

Referring to relations between Serbia and the U.S., the president said that this could set the stage for a reformulation of American policy towards Serbia and the rest of the Western Balkans, one that would hopefully take into account, more than it does now, the interests of Serbia as the central strategic factor of stability in the region.