Serbia calls on Non-Alligned countries to support its initiative at the UN
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on Wednesday in Teheran asked the member states of the Non-Aligned Movement for their support at the UN General Assembly, where Serbia will launch an initiative to request an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on whether Kosovo's attempt at secession is in accordance with international law.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, July 31, 2008
"I hope that the members will recognize the full consistency of Serbia's position on the Kosovo issue with the principles of the Movement, and that you will rally to our cause as if we were still fully one of your own," said Jeremic in his address to the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Iran's capital.
By having recourse to the ICJ, the General Assembly would ensure that the "Kosovo issue becomes a symbol of renewed resolve towards the rule of law by the international community," underscored Jeremic.
"Our forthcoming initiative is in full harmony with the Sixteenth Paragraph of the draft Teheran Final Document which states that the Movement "invites also the General Assembly [...] to request advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of their activities," said Jeremic.
Minister Jeremic said that the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo's secessionists constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter and runs counter to Security Council resolution 1244's binding obligation on all member-states to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.
"A great majority of both the UN's and the Movement's member states have continued to abide by these principles, and have not recognized this attempt at secession. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I want to express my profound appreciation to them for their strict commitment to the principles of international law," Jeremic underlined.
Jeremic also said that Serbia is determined to become a member of the European Union, but that it also continues to embrace the values of the Non-Aligned Movement in which it has a status of an observer-state.
