Jeremić: Agreement at UN SC by October

FM Vuk Jeremić says an agreement could be reached with the UN Security Council regarding Kosovo by October.

Source: Beta
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Jeremić said in an interview with daily Večernje Novosti that he expected an agreement governing the international presence in Kosovo to be reached at the same time as a ruling on Kosovo independence was due to be passed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Serbia could make a breakthrough on the diplomatic front as early as the autumn: with a decision on Kosovo’s independence declaration by the ICJ and reaching an agreement in the UN Security Council regarding the international civil presence in the province,” the minister explained.

He said that there was a realistic chance that by September or October, Serbia could reach an agreement directly with the UN Secretariat regarding the international civil presence that would then be confirmed by the Security Council.

“It would specify the formation, as well as the mandate of the international civil presence, that would involve the EU’s participation under UN auspices, within the framework of Resolution 1244, without compromising Serbia’s sovereignty and without the authority to implement the Ahtisaari Plan,” Jeremić said.

The minister said that talks were also under way with UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier, adding that the process of reconfiguring the UN mission had begun without Serbia, but must not be allowed to end without her input.

Asked if he could state for sure whether the “the wave of recognition” of Kosovo’s independence would be stopped in its tracks if the “Kosovo case” came before the International Court of Justice, Jeremić said that what the Court had to say carried a lot of political and moral weight, since it was the highest judicial body of the UN.

“If the Court reaches the verdict we expect—that the declaration of independence contravened international law—I think that we will almost certainly be able to return to the negotiating table,” Jeremić predicted.

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