Tadić seeks support from African leaders

Boris Tadic has called on the members of the African Union Summit to support Serbia over Kosovo, Tanjug is reporting. The Serbian president urged the meeting in the Egyptian resort of Sham el Sheikh today to back a resolution Serbia will use to seek the International Court of Justice opinion on the legality of Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence. Tadic seeks support from African leaders “In the name of creating a future with better perspective and more democracy for all who live in our province of Kosovo, and for the rest of Serbia and the region, I am calling on you to support the resolution which we will submit to the UN General Assembly in September,” Tadic said. Tadic thanked the African countries which have not recognized the unilateral proclamation, stating that in this manner they showed their adherence to the principles of international law. “We are aware that you were all advised to recognize Kosovo's independence, and on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I want to express my great gratitude to the vast majority of you for your principled stance to refrain from doing so,” he said. “Motivated by your deep respect for the principles of international law, you looked at the strategic consequences of the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence for the UN system. You looked at the precedent of Kosovo and its potential consequences – the existing conflicts could escalate, the frozen conflicts could be renewed, and new ones could erupt,” Tadic said. He told the African leaders gatehred that the unilateral declaration "represents a serious obstacle on the road towards the European Union for Serbia and the entire region", and that "unless the problem is not solved in the right way, the great progress the entire region of the Western Balkans has made could be jeopardized". Tadic stated that Serbia does not condone any use of violence and supports a peaceful solution to the Kosovo status question, "with values of the EU to which she strives". “Instead, we will continue to use all of our diplomatic, political and legal arsenal,” he continued. Tadic reminded of "the close and friendly relations between the former Yugoslavia, which Serbia succeeded, and the African continent", adding that Serbia wants to fully restore these ties.

Tadić seeks support from African leaders

“In the name of creating a future with better perspective and more democracy for all who live in our province of Kosovo, and for the rest of Serbia and the region, I am calling on you to support the resolution which we will submit to the UN General Assembly in September,” Tadić said.

Tadić thanked the African countries which have not recognized the unilateral proclamation, stating that in this manner they showed their adherence to the principles of international law.

“We are aware that you were all advised to recognize Kosovo's independence, and on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I want to express my great gratitude to the vast majority of you for your principled stance to refrain from doing so,” he said.

“Motivated by your deep respect for the principles of international law, you looked at the strategic consequences of the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence for the UN system. You looked at the precedent of Kosovo and its potential consequences – the existing conflicts could escalate, the frozen conflicts could be renewed, and new ones could erupt,” Tadić said.

He told the African leaders gatehred that the unilateral declaration "represents a serious obstacle on the road towards the European Union for Serbia and the entire region", and that "unless the problem is not solved in the right way, the great progress the entire region of the Western Balkans has made could be jeopardized".

Tadić stated that Serbia does not condone any use of violence and supports a peaceful solution to the Kosovo status question, "with values of the EU to which she strives".

“Instead, we will continue to use all of our diplomatic, political and legal arsenal,” he continued.

Tadić reminded of "the close and friendly relations between the former Yugoslavia, which Serbia succeeded, and the African continent", adding that Serbia wants to fully restore these ties.