Parliament meets for Kosovo session

The Serbian parliament is meeting in Belgrade this Monday, with only one item on the agenda - the government's draft resolution on Kosovo. The session is attended by 215 out of 250 MPs, who will discuss the draft resolution which calls for negotiations that would lead to a lasting solution and historical reconciliation between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. Parliament meets for Kosovo session Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, all members of the government and Head of Serbia's legal team before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dusan Batakovic arrived at the Serbian parliament and are attending the debate. The session was preceded by thirty-minute meeting with parliamentary groups, which was attended by the whips and their deputies. Shortly after it began, opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic left the meeting. Soon after, opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) whip Milos Aligrudic and Serb Radical Party (SRS) whip Dragan Todorovic also walked out. No details have emerged from that meeting. The government's draft resolution calls for national unity and announces that all available diplomatic and political means will be used to preserve Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic addressed MPs today to say that "55 countries are one step away from recognizing Kosovo", but that the government in Belgrade is "doing everything" to prevent that. The government is proposing that Serbia submits a resolution to the UN in September, as the world organization's General Assembly meets in New York, and push for a compromise solution to the problem of Kosovo, said he. Serbia's state organs will be tasked with winning over a majority of countries at the UN General Assembly to vote in favor of the draft resolution, "after which it will be clear that the ICJ did not give (ethnic) Albanians a right to secede from Serbia", Jeremic stated. "In the period to come, our diplomatic activity will be directed at preventing further recognitions of Kosovo," he said. According to the minister, this is a difficult moment for Serbia, "we must remain composed, but also determined". "Today, the eyes of the world are on Serbia, on this parliament debate. Today the world is watching to see the reaction of Serbia, and the road that Serbia will take," he warned. For that reason, Jeremic told MPs, it is crucially important to achieve unity and reach joint conclusions in parliament. "The more united we stand, the stronger our message to the world that we are continuing on our road." Jeremic noted that Serbia is facing a decision whether to continue with her policy of strictly respecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity by using all legal, political and diplomatic means. He stressed that the government has sent its draft resolution to the Serbian parliament in order to confirm that policy, so that a peaceful, lasting and sustainable solution is reached, that will be in line with the Serbian Constitution, which should enable for a "historic reconciliation of the Serb and Albanian peoples, and peace and stability in the region". Jeremic also said that "as long as the Constitution of Serbia is in force, the country cannot give up on the policy of preserving its territorial integrity. "Serbia still believes that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence is a violation of international law and that Kosovo Albanians had no right to a secession," Serbia's FM stressed. Head of Serbia's legal team before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dusan Batakovic also addressed MPs today to say that the ICJ did not close the door for Serbia's further political and diplomatic activities whose aim is to preserve the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Batakovic pointed out that, by the way it formulated the advisory opinion, the Court tried to find the exit from an awkward political situation, and so treated the issue of declaration as a legal instrument, rather than the issue of the right to a secession and the consequences of such act. Therefore, he said, the essential part of the question - whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is in accordance with international law - was returned to the UN General Assembly. "This outcome represents a legal failure for Serbia as it did not receive help in a situation in which the international law was violated to the detriment of the country," Batakovic assessed. However, he pointed out that the procedure before the ICJ was significant for Serbia because it stopped the wave of recognition of Kosovo's independence. Tadic attends the session today (Tanjug) The debate Opposition DSS MPs took part in the debate to announce that they will not vote in favor of the draft resolution. They said this came because the document "represents a continuation of the policy that suffered defeat at The Hague". The proposal to send a Serbian resolution on Kosovo to the UN General Assembly was described as "suicidal" by high ranking DSS official Slobodan Samarzic. According to him, lawsuits should be filed against one or more countries that have recognized the unilaterally declared independence of the southern Serbian province. Opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS), however, said it would "support the future policy on Kosovo that the Serbian parliament is currently debating". "SRS will not side with the enemy and will vote for the document regardless of whether its amendments are accepted or not," said MP Dragan Todorovic. Balint Pastor of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) said that this party will support the government draft resolution on Kosovo and its peaceful policy for a solution to the problem. Pastor addressed the parliament by saying that the SVM and the Vojvodina Hungarians would not be the ones to deny the Serbian government a chance to address the UN General Assembly. The SVM would prefer it if that were done in cooperation with the EU and other countries that might help Serbia in years to come, he noted. But Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and MP Cedomir Jovanovic stated that his party will not vote in favor of the draft. "We do not support this resolution because it continues a wrong policy," Jovanovic said addressing the Serbian parliament. Jovanovic said that the responsibility for the current situation regarding Kosovo goes beyond politics. He called on the government to define priorities that would bring democracy and economic development to the country, modernize it and result in a partnership relation with the world. That relation, said Jovanovic, should be used to realize Serbian interest Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and leader of the ruling SPS said that the country's upcoming moves regarding Kosovo must be "well-designed" so as to avoid the possibility that before the UN General Assembly, Serbia itself puts an end to its struggle for preservation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty. “We definitely should go before the UN General Assembly, but also take care that the move of our policy towards Kosovo does not turn to be our last. The resolution should be well-drafted, lest we put an end to what we are doing ourselves,” Dacic said at the extraordinary session of the Serbian parliament. President satisfied President Boris Tadic told reporters during a break in the session that the parliamentary debate on Kosovo was a "democratic and constructive one, unlike most of the discussions in the past 15 years". Tadic stated that the discussions help state institutions in the defense of the country's integrity after the ICJ opinion. The Serbian president said that the Kosovo issue is now again transferred from the legal to the political field, and that Serbia wishes to submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly that would lead to a compromise solution, rather than "set the problem ablaze". Tadic said that the Serbian government, its ministries, parliament and the president are obligated to respect the Constitution, and pointed out that they "certainly will". He stressed that "no one can prevent Serbia" to use all legitimate means to defend its integrity. The resolution The extraordinary session of the Serbian government was called in the wake of the ICJ advisory opinion, delivered last week, that said the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration was not violating international law, since international law had no provisions preventing such declarations; however, the top UN court would not state its position on the right to self-determination or secession. The ICJ decision will be sent to the UN General Assembly. Ahead of the parliament session in Belgrade today, reports said that the Serbian government was proposing that a resolution be submitted to the UN General Assembly in September, which would open up the possibility of new negotiations for a solution of compromise for Kosovo if adopted. The document, in which the government states that new negotiations with the Kosovo Albanian leadership is the only way to solve the Kosovo crisis, would be the only topic discussed at Monday’s session. The draft states that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) did not answer the essential question of the legality of the Kosovo Albanian attempt to secede from Serbia. “The Serbian parliament states that the ICJ, while giving its advisory opinion on Kosovo's proclamation of independence, did not legalize an ethnically motivated attempt of Kosovo’s secession. The ICJ did not answer the essential question of the legality of a right to secession of Kosovo Albanians,” the draft resolution states. The government also calls for national unity, and announces that all available diplomatic and political measures would be used for preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The parliamentary resolution also aims to define the next steps of Serbia’s foreign policy. “The national parliament gives support to the government’s process of submitting a resolution to the UN General Assembly, which if adopted, would open a path of reaching a compromise on Kosovo through negotiations,” the draft states. The ruling Democratic Party stated that it believes the session would show that an awareness existed of the responsibility of both the government and opposition parties for the current situation. The opposition stated earlier that they wanted to hold a parliamentary meeting to discuss the Kosovo issue. The opposition Serb Progressive Party stated that its MPs would participate in the debate, while the Liberal Democratic Party said it did not support the government’s resolution, "which would only support and extend the wrong policies".

Parliament meets for Kosovo session

Serbian President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, all members of the government and Head of Serbia's legal team before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dušan Bataković arrived at the Serbian parliament and are attending the debate.

The session was preceded by thirty-minute meeting with parliamentary groups, which was attended by the whips and their deputies. Shortly after it began, opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolić left the meeting. Soon after, opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) whip Miloš Aligrudić and Serb Radical Party (SRS) whip Dragan Todorović also walked out.

No details have emerged from that meeting.

The government's draft resolution calls for national unity and announces that all available diplomatic and political means will be used to preserve Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić addressed MPs today to say that "55 countries are one step away from recognizing Kosovo", but that the government in Belgrade is "doing everything" to prevent that.

The government is proposing that Serbia submits a resolution to the UN in September, as the world organization's General Assembly meets in New York, and push for a compromise solution to the problem of Kosovo, said he.

Serbia's state organs will be tasked with winning over a majority of countries at the UN General Assembly to vote in favor of the draft resolution, "after which it will be clear that the ICJ did not give (ethnic) Albanians a right to secede from Serbia", Jeremić stated.

"In the period to come, our diplomatic activity will be directed at preventing further recognitions of Kosovo," he said.

According to the minister, this is a difficult moment for Serbia, "we must remain composed, but also determined".

"Today, the eyes of the world are on Serbia, on this parliament debate. Today the world is watching to see the reaction of Serbia, and the road that Serbia will take," he warned.

For that reason, Jeremić told MPs, it is crucially important to achieve unity and reach joint conclusions in parliament.

"The more united we stand, the stronger our message to the world that we are continuing on our road."

Jeremić noted that Serbia is facing a decision whether to continue with her policy of strictly respecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity by using all legal, political and diplomatic means.

He stressed that the government has sent its draft resolution to the Serbian parliament in order to confirm that policy, so that a peaceful, lasting and sustainable solution is reached, that will be in line with the Serbian Constitution, which should enable for a "historic reconciliation of the Serb and Albanian peoples, and peace and stability in the region".

Jeremić also said that "as long as the Constitution of Serbia is in force, the country cannot give up on the policy of preserving its territorial integrity.

"Serbia still believes that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence is a violation of international law and that Kosovo Albanians had no right to a secession," Serbia's FM stressed.

Head of Serbia's legal team before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Dušan Bataković also addressed MPs today to say that the ICJ did not close the door for Serbia's further political and diplomatic activities whose aim is to preserve the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Bataković pointed out that, by the way it formulated the advisory opinion, the Court tried to find the exit from an awkward political situation, and so treated the issue of declaration as a legal instrument, rather than the issue of the right to a secession and the consequences of such act.

Therefore, he said, the essential part of the question - whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is in accordance with international law - was returned to the UN General Assembly.

"This outcome represents a legal failure for Serbia as it did not receive help in a situation in which the international law was violated to the detriment of the country," Bataković assessed.

However, he pointed out that the procedure before the ICJ was significant for Serbia because it stopped the wave of recognition of Kosovo's independence.

The debate

Opposition DSS MPs took part in the debate to announce that they will not vote in favor of the draft resolution.

They said this came because the document "represents a continuation of the policy that suffered defeat at The Hague".

The proposal to send a Serbian resolution on Kosovo to the UN General Assembly was described as "suicidal" by high ranking DSS official Slobodan Samaržić.

According to him, lawsuits should be filed against one or more countries that have recognized the unilaterally declared independence of the southern Serbian province.

Opposition Serb Radical Party (SRS), however, said it would "support the future policy on Kosovo that the Serbian parliament is currently debating".

"SRS will not side with the enemy and will vote for the document regardless of whether its amendments are accepted or not," said MP Dragan Todorović.

Balint Pastor of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM) said that this party will support the government draft resolution on Kosovo and its peaceful policy for a solution to the problem.

Pastor addressed the parliament by saying that the SVM and the Vojvodina Hungarians would not be the ones to deny the Serbian government a chance to address the UN General Assembly.

The SVM would prefer it if that were done in cooperation with the EU and other countries that might help Serbia in years to come, he noted.

But Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader and MP Ćedomir Jovanović stated that his party will not vote in favor of the draft.

"We do not support this resolution because it continues a wrong policy," Jovanović said addressing the Serbian parliament.

Jovanović said that the responsibility for the current situation regarding Kosovo goes beyond politics.

He called on the government to define priorities that would bring democracy and economic development to the country, modernize it and result in a partnership relation with the world. That relation, said Jovanović, should be used to realize Serbian interest

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and leader of the ruling SPS said that the country's upcoming moves regarding Kosovo must be "well-designed" so as to avoid the possibility that before the UN General Assembly, Serbia itself puts an end to its struggle for preservation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“We definitely should go before the UN General Assembly, but also take care that the move of our policy towards Kosovo does not turn to be our last. The resolution should be well-drafted, lest we put an end to what we are doing ourselves,” Dačić said at the extraordinary session of the Serbian parliament.

President satisfied

President Boris Tadić told reporters during a break in the session that the parliamentary debate on Kosovo was a "democratic and constructive one, unlike most of the discussions in the past 15 years".

Tadić stated that the discussions help state institutions in the defense of the country's integrity after the ICJ opinion.

The Serbian president said that the Kosovo issue is now again transferred from the legal to the political field, and that Serbia wishes to submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly that would lead to a compromise solution, rather than "set the problem ablaze".

Tadić said that the Serbian government, its ministries, parliament and the president are obligated to respect the Constitution, and pointed out that they "certainly will".

He stressed that "no one can prevent Serbia" to use all legitimate means to defend its integrity.

The resolution

The extraordinary session of the Serbian government was called in the wake of the ICJ advisory opinion, delivered last week, that said the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration was not violating international law, since international law had no provisions preventing such declarations; however, the top UN court would not state its position on the right to self-determination or secession.

The ICJ decision will be sent to the UN General Assembly.

Ahead of the parliament session in Belgrade today, reports said that the Serbian government was proposing that a resolution be submitted to the UN General Assembly in September, which would open up the possibility of new negotiations for a solution of compromise for Kosovo if adopted.

The document, in which the government states that new negotiations with the Kosovo Albanian leadership is the only way to solve the Kosovo crisis, would be the only topic discussed at Monday’s session.

The draft states that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) did not answer the essential question of the legality of the Kosovo Albanian attempt to secede from Serbia.

“The Serbian parliament states that the ICJ, while giving its advisory opinion on Kosovo's proclamation of independence, did not legalize an ethnically motivated attempt of Kosovo’s secession. The ICJ did not answer the essential question of the legality of a right to secession of Kosovo Albanians,” the draft resolution states.

The government also calls for national unity, and announces that all available diplomatic and political measures would be used for preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The parliamentary resolution also aims to define the next steps of Serbia’s foreign policy.

“The national parliament gives support to the government’s process of submitting a resolution to the UN General Assembly, which if adopted, would open a path of reaching a compromise on Kosovo through negotiations,” the draft states.

The ruling Democratic Party stated that it believes the session would show that an awareness existed of the responsibility of both the government and opposition parties for the current situation.

The opposition stated earlier that they wanted to hold a parliamentary meeting to discuss the Kosovo issue.

The opposition Serb Progressive Party stated that its MPs would participate in the debate, while the Liberal Democratic Party said it did not support the government’s resolution, "which would only support and extend the wrong policies".