Jeremic: "For Belgrade, ICO doesn't exist"
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic who was in Brussels for a series of meetings, sad that the International Civilian Office (ICO), led by Pieter Feith, "does not exist" for official Belgrade, because it is not in accordance to international law.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Wednesday, January 27, 2010
After meeting with Jeremic, his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said that the European Union will be working to find a "practical solution that will be of benefit to everyone" for the north of Kosovo.
Moratinos added that during the political dialogue with Serbian officials there was also talk of the strategy for northern Kosovo, which was created by the Kosovo government and the ICO.
"We are working pragmatically and constructively. There will be contact in the period that is ahead and we will find a practical solution that will be to everyone's benefit," he said.
Jeremic for his part noted that the ICO led by Pieter Feith "does not exist" for official Belgrade, because it is not in accordance to international law.
"We can speak with EULEX and everyone else that has a legal mandate in Kosovo in accordance with Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council," Jeremic said.
"As far as the strategy for northern Kosovo is concerned, we believe that it has the support of the countries that support the work of the ICO, but not the support of the EU," he said.
Jeremic warned that there must be no more unilateral moves, stating that there have been "too many already" and that "cooperation is needed".
Asked whether Spain will support the "European integration of Kosovo", considering that it does not recognize the unilateral independence proclamation of the southern Serbian province, Moratinos said that the decision will be made within the framework of the EU.
Moratinos said that at the Western Balkans conference scheduled to be held in May in Sarajevo, Kosovo will be represented "in the same way it was until now when the EU is concerned".
Jeremic said that his position on this issue is that Belgrade believes that "the entire Western Balkans must have a European future".
"No one should be excluded and all the countries must become Union members as soon as possible. The future status of Kosovo and Metohija is still undetermined. Serbia hopes for a solution of compromise that will be acceptable for all sides and is working hard to achieve that," Jeremic said.
