Jeremić: Triumph for Serbia, international law

FM Vuk Jeremic believes that the adoption of Serbia's resolution in the General Assembly constitutes a victory “not just for Serbia, but international law“. Serbia's draft resolution to seek the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration was supported by a majority of UN member-states in New York yesterday. Jeremic: Triumph for Serbia, international law “We didn’t shy away from going everywhere, talking to everyone, and the result of our efforts is this big victory at the UN General Assembly,” said Jeremic. “But, we should not have any delusions, the hardest part of the job is still to come,” added the minister. 77 UN member-states backed the resolution, 6 voted against, while 74 abstained. EU member-states did not have a common stand, with the majority abstaining, though five supported the resolution. The countries that voted against the resolution were the U.S., Albania, Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. Among EU member-states, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Spain supported the resolution. Jeremic thanked the other countries that had supported Serbia, adding that he hoped cooperation with them over Kosovo’s status would continue. After the session, the minister also spoke with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on how to accelerate dialogue on the six points of the UNMIK reconfiguration process. “I’m hopeful that that process could soon bring positive results,” he told a news conference on Wednesday at UN headquarters. Jeremic voiced the hope that Ban’s next quarterly report on the situation in Kosovo would contain an agreement on the six points. After the result was announced, UK permanent Representative to the UN John Sawers underlined that the ICJ’s opinion was not binding. “The goal of that proposal is to slow the Kosovo recognition process, and to deprive Kosovo the right to participate in international institutions,” said Sawers. “My delegation is disappointed that our Serbian colleagues have refused to find a common means of moving forward. They’ve decided to present this resolution via the UN General Assembly without the slightest debate. It’s very sad that Serbia has chosen that course,” he said. Meanwhile, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu voiced regret at the decision of the UN General Assembly to adopt Serbia's resolution, but pointed out, however, that in spite of the decision, Kosovo independence was irreversible. At a special press conference in Pristina attended by Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni, Sejdiu said that so far, Kosovo had been recognized by the majority of European Union and NATO member states, as well as all the G7 states, voicing his belief that new recognitions would follow. He underlined that Kosovo intented to take an active part in the presentation of its case before the ICJ, that international allies and friends would offer support in that respect, and that he expected the Court to be impartial, fair and just. The Serbian delegation celebrates (FoNet)

Jeremić: Triumph for Serbia, international law

“We didn’t shy away from going everywhere, talking to everyone, and the result of our efforts is this big victory at the UN General Assembly,” said Jeremić.

“But, we should not have any delusions, the hardest part of the job is still to come,” added the minister.

77 UN member-states backed the resolution, 6 voted against, while 74 abstained. EU member-states did not have a common stand, with the majority abstaining, though five supported the resolution.

The countries that voted against the resolution were the U.S., Albania, Nauru, Palau, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. Among EU member-states, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Spain supported the resolution.

Jeremić thanked the other countries that had supported Serbia, adding that he hoped cooperation with them over Kosovo’s status would continue.

After the session, the minister also spoke with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on how to accelerate dialogue on the six points of the UNMIK reconfiguration process. “I’m hopeful that that process could soon bring positive results,” he told a news conference on Wednesday at UN headquarters.

Jeremić voiced the hope that Ban’s next quarterly report on the situation in Kosovo would contain an agreement on the six points.

After the result was announced, UK permanent Representative to the UN John Sawers underlined that the ICJ’s opinion was not binding.

“The goal of that proposal is to slow the Kosovo recognition process, and to deprive Kosovo the right to participate in international institutions,” said Sawers.

“My delegation is disappointed that our Serbian colleagues have refused to find a common means of moving forward. They’ve decided to present this resolution via the UN General Assembly without the slightest debate. It’s very sad that Serbia has chosen that course,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu voiced regret at the decision of the UN General Assembly to adopt Serbia's resolution, but pointed out, however, that in spite of the decision, Kosovo independence was irreversible.

At a special press conference in Priština attended by Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci and Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni, Sejdiu said that so far, Kosovo had been recognized by the majority of European Union and NATO member states, as well as all the G7 states, voicing his belief that new recognitions would follow.

He underlined that Kosovo intented to take an active part in the presentation of its case before the ICJ, that international allies and friends would offer support in that respect, and that he expected the Court to be impartial, fair and just.