UN chief stresses compromise; FM: Kosovo part of Serbia

BELGRADE UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has stressed the importance of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the need to reach a solution through compromise. Both sides should continue making progress through dialogue in order to improve the lives of ordinary people and move ahead toward a European future to which they aspire together, he said on Monday in Belgrade. UN chief stresses compromise; FM: Kosovo part of Serbia Ban, who arrived on his first official visit to Serbia as part of his tour of the Balkan region, pointed out that the promotion of cooperation and reconciliation and resolution of problems through dialogue was essential for the Western Balkans. These are of vital importance and a prerequisite for the region to move forward on its path to the European Union, Ban said. The UN are committed to supporting the region, he said after meeting with Foreign Minister and newly elected Chairman of the UN General Assembly (UN GA) Vuk Jeremic. Ban observed that 20 years ago the region had been a region of conflicts and today its countries focused on contributing to peace. The UN was once engaged in resolving conflicts, while today it focuses on helping build the future through partnerships, he added. Jeremic recalled the fact that 20 years ago, Serbia had been expelled from the UN, and today it came back to chair the UN General Assembly. 20 years ago, Serbia was in a situation to have its membership of the UN GA suspended and it was very difficult for us, but now, twenty years later, Serbia is back to lead the General Assembly, said Jeremic. We will not betray the trust vested in us, Jeremic said at a joint news conference with Ban Ki-moon after their meeting at the Serbian Foreign Ministry building. In the year to come, Serbia will play an important role and to gain the trust of the world has been a great honor, Jeremic added. The secretary general of the world organization said he was pleased that Jeremic had been elected Chairman of the UN General Assembly. It is a huge responsibility, Ban Ki-moon said, adding that Jeremic will have to deal with issues of global significance and that he believes Jeremic will be able to respond to global challenges. In this context, it is important to be above national interests, said Ban, stressing that Jeremic could count on strong support from the UN Jeremic and Ban meet in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug) "Our constitutional, political, moral and historical obligation" Serbian Foreign Minister and newly elected chairman of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremic said Monday that Kosovo and Metohija is a province within Serbia according to its Constitution and the Resolution 1244 of UN Security Council. He also pledged that during his presidency of the General Assembly, he will behave in accordance with the rules and procedures of the organization. After his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Jeremic was asked by Tanjug whether Kosovo's aspirations to become a member of the UN was mentioned in the talk. He said he expects all international factors to respect the Resolution 1244, if not the Constitution of Serbia. When it comes to UN membership of a territory on which there is disagreement, these rules are not particularly favorable to the secessionist territory, especially the territories that are under UN mandate, as is the case of Kosovo and Metohija, Jeremic said. He reiterated that Serbia will behave in accordance with these rules. Jeremic said that Serbia has a clear national policy that is enshrined in the Constitution and that leaves no room for political activities other than commitment to its territorial integrity. He said that he would chair the UN General Assembly in a fair way and abiding by the rules. The fight to protect the territorial integrity is our constitutional, political, moral and historical obligation, which, I believe, the future government will continue, he said. Kosovo and Metohija is a province within Serbia under the Constitution and its sovereignty was confirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he noted. Serbia therefore expects all international factors to respect, if not the Constitution of Serbia, then Resolution 1244, Jeremic said. Tanjug

UN chief stresses compromise; FM: Kosovo part of Serbia

Ban, who arrived on his first official visit to Serbia as part of his tour of the Balkan region, pointed out that the promotion of cooperation and reconciliation and resolution of problems through dialogue was essential for the Western Balkans.

These are of vital importance and a prerequisite for the region to move forward on its path to the European Union, Ban said.

The UN are committed to supporting the region, he said after meeting with Foreign Minister and newly elected Chairman of the UN General Assembly (UN GA) Vuk Jeremić.

Ban observed that 20 years ago the region had been a region of conflicts and today its countries focused on contributing to peace.

The UN was once engaged in resolving conflicts, while today it focuses on helping build the future through partnerships, he added.

Jeremić recalled the fact that 20 years ago, Serbia had been expelled from the UN, and today it came back to chair the UN General Assembly.

20 years ago, Serbia was in a situation to have its membership of the UN GA suspended and it was very difficult for us, but now, twenty years later, Serbia is back to lead the General Assembly, said Jeremić.

We will not betray the trust vested in us, Jeremić said at a joint news conference with Ban Ki-moon after their meeting at the Serbian Foreign Ministry building.

In the year to come, Serbia will play an important role and to gain the trust of the world has been a great honor, Jeremic added.

The secretary general of the world organization said he was pleased that Jeremic had been elected Chairman of the UN General Assembly.

It is a huge responsibility, Ban Ki-moon said, adding that Jeremić will have to deal with issues of global significance and that he believes Jeremić will be able to respond to global challenges.

In this context, it is important to be above national interests, said Ban, stressing that Jeremić could count on strong support from the UN

"Our constitutional, political, moral and historical obligation"

Serbian Foreign Minister and newly elected chairman of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremić said Monday that Kosovo and Metohija is a province within Serbia according to its Constitution and the Resolution 1244 of UN Security Council.

He also pledged that during his presidency of the General Assembly, he will behave in accordance with the rules and procedures of the organization.

After his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Jeremić was asked by Tanjug whether Kosovo's aspirations to become a member of the UN was mentioned in the talk.

He said he expects all international factors to respect the Resolution 1244, if not the Constitution of Serbia.

When it comes to UN membership of a territory on which there is disagreement, these rules are not particularly favorable to the secessionist territory, especially the territories that are under UN mandate, as is the case of Kosovo and Metohija, Jeremić said.

He reiterated that Serbia will behave in accordance with these rules.

Jeremić said that Serbia has a clear national policy that is enshrined in the Constitution and that leaves no room for political activities other than commitment to its territorial integrity.

He said that he would chair the UN General Assembly in a fair way and abiding by the rules.

The fight to protect the territorial integrity is our constitutional, political, moral and historical obligation, which, I believe, the future government will continue, he said.

Kosovo and Metohija is a province within Serbia under the Constitution and its sovereignty was confirmed in UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he noted.

Serbia therefore expects all international factors to respect, if not the Constitution of Serbia, then Resolution 1244, Jeremić said.