Serbia appeals for African backing against Kosovo

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic welcomed the fact that as many as 80 percent of the member-states of the African Union (AU) had not recognized Kosovo and called on them to maintain such a stand.

"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 in Addis Ababa.

"I have come here to plead that you maintain your principled reservation on the Kosovo issue," Jeremic said.

"This case will constitute a strong precedent. It marks the first time ever that the Court has been asked to consider the legality of a unilateral attempt by an ethnic minority to secede from a UN member State in peacetime, in defiance of its Constitution and the will of the Security Council."

"We ask all the non-recognizing countries represented in this room to stay the course, by not accepting Kosovo's attempted secession. We do so not only in the name of our traditional ties of friendship, but in the name of working together to consolidate a rules-based international order for the 21st century-one in which secession is clearly seen as a dangerous threat, and one in which reaching agreement between the parties is the only legitimate, sustainable way forward," said Jeremic.

"From the onset of this grave crisis, we decided to respond to the illegitimate effort to forcibly partition Serbia in a peaceful manner, and with maximal restraint. We chose to harness all the diplomatic resources at our disposal to counter secession, and contain its potentially destabilizing consequences. Thanks to the overwhelming support achieved in the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice was tasked with ruling on the legality of Kosovo's attempt at secession. The Court's decision is expected this year."

"Accordingly, the Court's conclusions will have extensive consequences for the entire international community-perhaps for African Union states most of all. Imagine how many UN member States of this great continent would be affected by the legitimization of forcible partition. The borders of every multiethnic state could be threatened, producing instability in all corners of Africa. Progress, development, human rights, and ultimately-peace, would be jeopardized. The achievements of generations of African statesmen would be set back, as the number of crises multiplies," the Serbian minister told the gathering.

"That is why it is imperative-why it is absolutely critical-for the Court to be allowed to do its job, unhindered by political pressures, such as further recognitions of Kosovo's separatists. It is the only way to avoid doing any further damage to the legitimacy of the international system and the universality of the values we hold in common," said Jeremic.