Serbian FM recommends return of recalled ambassadors to EU countries
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on Sunday stated that he would recommend to the Serbian government at its session on Thursday to return Serbia's ambassadors to European Union member states, who were recalled from those countries that recognized Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Monday, July 21, 2008
"The ministry of foreign affairs has decided to suggest at the next government session, after consultations with the president of the republic, a partial revision of the Action Plan, which would imply return of ambassadors to the EU countries and normalization of relations," Jeremic told a news conference at the Serbian government.
Jeremic clarified that the proposal is aimed at increasing "our diplomatic resources and our efforts to get the status of a candidate state for the EU membership by the end of the year."
He underscored that this would apply only to the EU countries and that the ambassadors would be returned immediately if the government backs the proposal.
Jeremic clarified that it was evaluated that such a revision of the Action Plan would produce an optimal effect.
Minister Jeremic also underscored that Serbia must never send out a signal that might be interpreted as giving up the defense of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
"We believe that despite the criticism, the Action Plan produced excellent results and that our results in the area of foreign policy are excellent, because only a small number of countries have recognized Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence. Kosovo did not become a member of any of the important international institutions," said Jeremic.
"We are very careful in determining this measure and there is no normalization of relations with any other country that violated the sovereignty and integrity of our country in its act of recognition of the unilateral and illegal proclamation of the independence of Kosovo and Metohija," the foreign minister said.
The move was, however, harshly critized by the Serbian opposition, who said it represented "discontinuity" with former policy and was sending wrong signals to those states which are still considering whether to recognize Kosovo or not.
Jeremic also said he had told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon of Belgrade's firm opposition to the reconfiguration of Unmik without a UN Security Council decision.
He also announced he would call on Unmik chief Lamberto Zannier to visit Belgrade for talks on the reconfiguration of the UN mission.
