Serbian FM urges African Union support

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic thanked on Thursday African countries for their support to Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also urged them to support an investigation into the allegations presented in the report on human organ trafficking in Kosovo. Serbian FM urges African Union support “In the name of the Republic of Serbia, I would like to express my profound appreciation to the over eighty percent of African Union countries that have not recognized the separatists in Kosovo. Your support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity is truly gratifying,” Jeremic said at a session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa. Jeremic underscored that Serbia's peaceful and principled position will not change, and that it will not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, explicitly or implicitly. “The dialogue (between Belgrade and Pristina) is about to begin. We intend to be open and honest about what we want and what we can agree to. We shall make creative proposals, and work incessantly to reach a comprehensive settlement on Kosovo acceptable to all parties,” Jeremic stated. Jeremic called on the AU members to maintain their principled reservation on the Kosovo issue, since in the manner they will help the parties ultimately arrive at a mutually-acceptable compromise in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), thereby preventing the creation of a dangerous international precedent. The minister urged on all AU countries to support the prompt carrying out of a full and independent criminal investigation into the allegations presented in the report. “In the interest of sustainable peace and reconciliation in the Balkans, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I ask the member states of the African Union to support the prompt carrying out of a full and independent criminal investigation of these charges-one that is both internationally mandated and internationally accountable, with ultimate reporting obligations to a single authority,” he said. According to Jeremic, Kosovo can be removed from the list of the world's problems by working together, demonstrating continued solidarity and rejecting unilateralism. He confirmed that Egypt, the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), will preside over a special meeting in Belgrade in the first half of September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. Jeremic recalled that Belgrade was the host of the First Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 1961, adding that Serbia remains distinctly proud of the role it played in the history of NAM. Serbia has stood firmly with Africa throughout its contemporary history, said the minister, adding that as a true and unconditional friend, Serbia has encouraged the African states to assert their pride of place in the international community and helped to build up Africa's economies. "The Republic of Serbia remains deeply committed to comprehensively enhance its relations with the AU and its member states," Jeremic said, adding that international stability and prosperity cannot be consolidated without taking into account the views of the majority of the global family of nations. “We share your vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena," Jeremic concluded. During his two-day visit to Ethiopia, Jeremic will have a number of bilateral meetings with heads of delegations which participate in the session of the AU Executive Council. For the time being, Serbia holds observer status at the AU. Vuk Jeremic (Beta, file)

Serbian FM urges African Union support

“In the name of the Republic of Serbia, I would like to express my profound appreciation to the over eighty percent of African Union countries that have not recognized the separatists in Kosovo. Your support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity is truly gratifying,” Jeremić said at a session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa.

Jeremić underscored that Serbia's peaceful and principled position will not change, and that it will not recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, explicitly or implicitly.

“The dialogue (between Belgrade and Priština) is about to begin. We intend to be open and honest about what we want and what we can agree to. We shall make creative proposals, and work incessantly to reach a comprehensive settlement on Kosovo acceptable to all parties,” Jeremić stated.

Jeremić called on the AU members to maintain their principled reservation on the Kosovo issue, since in the manner they will help the parties ultimately arrive at a mutually-acceptable compromise in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), thereby preventing the creation of a dangerous international precedent.

The minister urged on all AU countries to support the prompt carrying out of a full and independent criminal investigation into the allegations presented in the report.

“In the interest of sustainable peace and reconciliation in the Balkans, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I ask the member states of the African Union to support the prompt carrying out of a full and independent criminal investigation of these charges-one that is both internationally mandated and internationally accountable, with ultimate reporting obligations to a single authority,” he said.

According to Jeremić, Kosovo can be removed from the list of the world's problems by working together, demonstrating continued solidarity and rejecting unilateralism.

He confirmed that Egypt, the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), will preside over a special meeting in Belgrade in the first half of September to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding.

Jeremić recalled that Belgrade was the host of the First Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 1961, adding that Serbia remains distinctly proud of the role it played in the history of NAM.

Serbia has stood firmly with Africa throughout its contemporary history, said the minister, adding that as a true and unconditional friend, Serbia has encouraged the African states to assert their pride of place in the international community and helped to build up Africa's economies.

"The Republic of Serbia remains deeply committed to comprehensively enhance its relations with the AU and its member states," Jeremić said, adding that international stability and prosperity cannot be consolidated without taking into account the views of the majority of the global family of nations.

“We share your vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena," Jeremić concluded.

During his two-day visit to Ethiopia, Jeremić will have a number of bilateral meetings with heads of delegations which participate in the session of the AU Executive Council.

For the time being, Serbia holds observer status at the AU.