FM: Serbia's Kosovo policy remains unchanged

The Serbian government's policy on Kosovo will not be changed in the wake of the EU decision earlier this month on Serbia's candidate status bid. This is according to Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who also stated that "the European process should remain the choice of the current and future authorities". FM: Serbia's Kosovo policy remains unchanged Speaking at a gathering in Belgrade dedicated to relations between Serbia and the EU, Jeremic noted that it was impossible for the country to become EU membership candidate on December 9 because there were explicit demands that it should renounce UN Security Council Resolution 1244 when it comes to regional representation of Pristina - i.e., the Kosovo Albanian authorities. "Serbia has no intention to in any way stifle the participation and voice of Pristina in regional forums. However, the other side insisted that this should not be an issue of participation but of membership, and that we cannot accept," he said. Jeremic also told the gathering that there was great resistance at the UN Security Council toward a draft resolution on Kosovo organ trafficking, presented by Serbia and Russia, and seeking to establish an international mechanism to investigate the crimes. The ethnic Albanian KLA has been accused of kidnapping Serb civilians in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000 and killing them for their body parts. "The resistance toward establishment of full transparency when it comes to the human organ trafficking investigation represents an act of moral abdication in front of hardcore criminals and war criminals," warned the minister. Consultations on this draft are ongoing, he added, and it is hard to predict their outcome. Jeremic could not confirm whether the proposed resolution would be put up for a vote at the council on Wednesday, "or if additional consultations would be needed": "There can be no serious investigation without a mandate given by the Security Council," said Jeremic, and added that the probe must be conducted in several countries, noting at the same time that there was no statute of limitation on the monstrous crimes in question. Vuk Jeremic is seen in Belgrade on Wednesday (Tanjug)

FM: Serbia's Kosovo policy remains unchanged

Speaking at a gathering in Belgrade dedicated to relations between Serbia and the EU, Jeremić noted that it was impossible for the country to become EU membership candidate on December 9 because there were explicit demands that it should renounce UN Security Council Resolution 1244 when it comes to regional representation of Priština - i.e., the Kosovo Albanian authorities.

"Serbia has no intention to in any way stifle the participation and voice of Priština in regional forums. However, the other side insisted that this should not be an issue of participation but of membership, and that we cannot accept," he said.

Jeremić also told the gathering that there was great resistance at the UN Security Council toward a draft resolution on Kosovo organ trafficking, presented by Serbia and Russia, and seeking to establish an international mechanism to investigate the crimes.

The ethnic Albanian KLA has been accused of kidnapping Serb civilians in Kosovo in 1999 and 2000 and killing them for their body parts.

"The resistance toward establishment of full transparency when it comes to the human organ trafficking investigation represents an act of moral abdication in front of hardcore criminals and war criminals," warned the minister.

Consultations on this draft are ongoing, he added, and it is hard to predict their outcome. Jeremić could not confirm whether the proposed resolution would be put up for a vote at the council on Wednesday, "or if additional consultations would be needed":

"There can be no serious investigation without a mandate given by the Security Council," said Jeremić, and added that the probe must be conducted in several countries, noting at the same time that there was no statute of limitation on the monstrous crimes in question.