YouSaid · the spoken record

Boris Tadić

lines on the record: 104
first: 2006-09-24
most recent: 2011-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“As part of our constructive approach, we decided to contest the issue of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence before the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, which was tasked by General Assembly resolution 63/3 with issuing an advisory opinion on whether that declaration is in accordance with international law. I would like to take this opportunity to inform the Member States that the Court has concluded the preliminary, written phase of its proceedings in the case. Public hearings are scheduled to begin on 1 December, with a decision by the Court expected sometime next year. Let me express my sincere gratitude to all those countries that have chosen to actively support Serbia’s strategic choice to transfer the Kosovo issue to the judicial arena.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Serbia opted for a diplomatic approach, the result of which is that a vast majority of United Nations Member States have refrained from recognizing the unilateral declaration of independence in Kosovo and have continued to abide by their Charter obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, allow me once again to sincerely thank these countries for their adherence to the principles of international law. While categorically rejecting violence and unilateralism, Serbia has been equally emphatic in demanding that justice be delivered through the proper legal means at the disposal of any United Nations Member State.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“Some say Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence is a unique case. But in truth it is an attempt to forcibly partition a Member State of the United Nations against its will and without regard for the firm opposition of the Security Council. It is an attempt to impose a nineteenth-century outcome on a twenty-first century challenge. Serbia will never, under any circumstances, implicitly or explicitly, recognize the unilateral declaration of independence of the ethnic Albanian authorities of our southern province. We will continue to vigorously defend our integrity in a non-confrontational manner, using all peaceful means at our disposal. That is why, at the very outset of this grave crisis, Serbia ruled out the use of force. We chose to respond to Kosovo with the utmost responsibility and restraint.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“No one should be above it, no one should stand beyond its reach and no one should feel at liberty to declare an exception to its jurisdiction and scope. And yet that is precisely what was recently attempted. I come before the Assembly as the President of a country that is trapped at the centre of one of the most dangerous challenges to the universality of the international system since the founding of the United Nations. I speak of UDI — the unilateral declaration of independence by the ethnic Albanian authorities of Serbia’s southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. This attempt at secession stands in direct violation of Serbia’s democratic Constitution, as well as the basic principles of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“In short, working towards a “green economy” will decisively contribute to placing the whole world firmly on the path towards a cleaner, more sustainable path. How we conduct ourselves at this time of great transformation will constitute a precedent with far- reaching consequences for generations to come. Simply put, we are at a point of decision: will we choose a world in which there are no rules as exceptions become the new norms, devoid of any meaning except “might makes right”? Or will we opt to solidify the great gains achieved when the principles of an equitable international order were embodied in the United Nations Charter? I believe that only the latter alternative provides a future that all United Nations Member States can work in concert to bring about. The starting point remains universal respect for international law.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“We must also work more in concert with one another to combat the effects of climate change. That 09-52470 2 will continue to be strongly emphasized over the course of Serbia’s two-year presidency of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environmental Programme. As part of our efforts, we have proposed the establishment of a regional climate change centre in Belgrade, Serbia. As a responsible global citizen, we have underlined the necessity of agreeing on a fair and balanced emissions reduction scheme and, in particular, on a new comprehensive climate agreement — one that will secure eco-friendly investments, stimulate innovation and facilitate the global spread of technologies, knowledge and experience.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As United Nations Member States, it is incumbent upon us to work more closely together to reaffirm the rules that govern the international system, to reinforce the territorial integrity of Member States, to entrench interdependence and to complete the transition from the old order, based on political and economic domination, to one established on equitable cooperation among all nations. That is the only way to build a future of global peace, stability and prosperity. It is the only way to enhance the dialogue among civilizations, to make multilateralism more effective and to provide for sustainable development and eradicate poverty throughout the world. And it is the only way to effectively fight terrorism and cross-border organized crime and to promote nuclear disarmament.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“What is becoming evident is that interrelated factors — the most recent of which is the global economic crisis — have caused the arrival of a new set of circumstances on the world stage. A broad repositioning appears to be taking place. The global balance of power is shifting as new financial models compete for primacy. All in all, international relations are becoming less predictable. Achieving consensus on fundamental issues that affect us all has never been more important.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“The United Nations is the only universal institution that unites us all as a global community of independent States. At the very heart of this indispensable Organization stands the General Assembly, the only place in the world where the sovereign voices of all countries are given an equal, legitimate say in the future course of mankind. Safeguarding the principles of the United Nations Charter remains much more important than the policies of any single nation, especially during transformative periods such as this. The international system seems to be undergoing a paradigm shift that, in many ways, is comparable in scope to those that occurred in 1945 and 1989. No one is yet able to reliably predict how deep the change will turn out to be.”
2009-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 64 (2009)
“As a country that is the largest successor to a co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement, Serbia will work hard to contribute to a more equitable global community, devoted to advancing the democratization of international relations, economic and social development, and human rights. I close by saying that my country remains ready to further promote a nobler form of intergovernmental cooperation that truly addresses challenges, alleviates divisions, and reduces tensions. Such a vision can be built only on the firm foundation of the universal principles of sovereign equality, solidarity and international law within the framework of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We will continue to do so because it is our duty — our legal, political and moral duty — to the victims, to ourselves and, most of all, to the generations to come. Europe has become the unifying force of the region. My country’s absolute dedication to joining the EU is shared by all the countries of the western Balkans. If we choose, as democracies, to belong to something that is greater than the sum of its parts, the balkanization of the Balkans can be reversed. Serbia’s European vision is complemented by our strong desire to continue restoring and deepening the many close friendships that Yugoslavia made across the globe during the post-Second World War period. It will be one of the key priorities in the years to come for my country and my Government.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In conclusion, I want to emphasize that the central strategic priority of the Republic of Serbia is rapid accession to the European Union. Serbia will join the EU not only for reasons of geography, heritage, and economic prosperity, but also because of the values we hold in common. They constitute the intangible greatness of twenty-first-century Europe and they form the foundation of our democracy, our society and our beliefs in what we can accomplish. Our common values also point to the significance of reconciliation — an important reason why Serbia is fully cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. We have demonstrated our unequivocal commitment time and again.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“It must remain status-neutral and cannot therefore be based on the so-called Ahtisaari proposal, which was rejected by Serbia and not approved by the Security Council. It is well known that the European Union (EU) has committed itself to building the much-needed institutional and societal fabric of our southern province. Let there be no doubt: My country supports the deepening of Europe’s engagement in any part of Serbia, including Kosovo. In order for Europe’s presence in Kosovo to be fully anchored within an acceptable, legitimate framework, it is vital that its mandate be approved by the Security Council. We will work with the Member States and the Secretariat to ensure that we achieve consensus in the near future on the international civil presence in our southern province.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“To vote against means to accept that nothing can be done when secessionists in any part of the world proclaim the uniqueness of their cause and claim exception to the universal scope of international law. Such an attitude could lead to the end of the United Nations system as we know it. Allow me therefore to formally ask for the support of each and every Member State for Serbia’s proposal before the General Assembly. While the International Court of Justice deliberates on the legality of UDI, Serbia will remain a good-faith partner in the interim administration of our southern province. The functionality of a reconfigured international civilian presence under the overall authority of the United Nations, as defined by resolution 1244 (1999), is of great importance to my country.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We also believe that an advisory opinion from the Court would provide politically neutral yet judicially authoritative guidance to many countries still deliberating on how to approach Kosovo’s UDI in line with international law. Members’ votes in support of the draft resolution would serve to reaffirm another key international principle at stake: the right of any State Member of the United Nations to pose a simple, elementary question on a matter it considers vitally important to the competent court. To vote against is in effect to vote to deny the right of any country, now or in the future, to seek judicial recourse through the United Nations system.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Let me make it clear that the text of the draft resolution refrains from taking political positions on Kosovo’s UDI. Instead, in simple and direct language, it asks the principal judicial organ of the United Nations — the International Court of Justice — to render an advisory opinion on the following question: “Is the unilateral declaration of independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo in accordance with international law?” 08-51570 30 We believe that sending the Kosovo question to the International Court of Justice would prevent the crisis from serving as a deeply problematic precedent in any part of the globe where secessionist ambitions are harboured.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“They have continued to abide by their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country. On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, allow me once again to sincerely thank these countries for their adherence to the principles of international law. Serbia proposes a non-confrontational way to respond to the threat posed to its territorial integrity. We have chosen to use the law. While rejecting violence and unilateralism categorically, we are equally emphatic in demanding that justice be delivered through the proper legal means at the disposal of any State Member of the United Nations. To that end, the Republic of Serbia has submitted a draft resolution to be considered at this session of the General Assembly.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“We face a defining moment. We must stand together in steadfastness and determination against a fundamental violation of international law. Serbia responded to Kosovo’s UDI with utmost responsibility and restraint. Despite political turmoil, our country continued to work hard to contribute to maintaining regional stability. From the very onset of this grave crisis, Serbia has ruled out the use of force. And we have not exercised other unilateral options, such as the imposition of economic sanctions against our breakaway province. Instead, we have opted for a peaceful and diplomatic approach, the result of which is that a vast majority of States Members of the United Nations have refrained from recognizing Kosovo’s UDI.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“As a result, the very nature of the international system has been called into question. We all know that there are dozens of Kosovos throughout the world, just waiting for secession to be legitimized, to be turned into an acceptable norm. Many existing conflicts could escalate, frozen conflicts could reignite, and new ones could be instigated. We have heard the argument that Kosovo is sui generis, that it is a unique case. But the truth is, that is tantamount to saying that Kosovo is an exception to international law, that Kosovo should stand beyond the rules that govern the behaviour of the international community. The Republic of Serbia rejects that claim, believing that no people is authorized to declare itself an exception, especially when doing so is in defiance of the position taken by the Security Council.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“With a fixed deadline and a default position that fulfilled the maximalist demands of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians, what incentive did they have to negotiate with Serbia in good faith? All they had to do was to pretend to engage in a process predetermined to fail and wait out the clock. The incentives for compromise were far outweighed by the incentives for maximalism. The result was the rejection of Serbia’s reasonable offer of almost unrestricted self-government, the broadest possible autonomy one can imagine. Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) amounts to an attempt to partition a State Member of the United Nations against its will, and with disregard for the firm opposition of the Security Council, in order to appease a volatile and threatening ethnic minority.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“The attempt at secession took place on 17 February 2008, in direct violation of the Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act and Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leaders chose to take that unilateral step after walking away from the negotiating table. They believed that if they walked away, the path to securing independence would open up before them. They believed it because that is what they were told. And they believed it because an artificial deadline on the talks was affirmed from the outside, after which, if no compromise solution was reached, Kosovo’s independence would be imposed. Under such circumstances, a negotiated solution was never a realistic option.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“This arrangement has not changed, and I believe it must not change — unless we seek to overthrow the Charter and overturn the global legal order upon which it is built. I come before the General Assembly as the President of a country that has become caught up at the heart of one of the most dangerous challenges to the 29 08-51570 nature of the international system since the founding of the United Nations. I speak of the unilateral, illegal and illegitimate declaration of independence by the ethnic Albanian authorities of our southern province of Kosovo and Metohija, a territory that stands at the crucible of the identity of the Serbian people. It is the essential link between our proud national past and our proud European future. It is what ties the living tradition of Serbia to itself today.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“However much the world has changed since 1945, the United Nations remains the only universal intergovernmental institution that unites us as a global community of sovereign States. And standing at the very heart of this indispensable Organization is the General Assembly, the ultimate source of the international system’s legitimacy. The unique world forum that is the General Assembly brings us together as sovereign equals, each acting on behalf of a country, with one vote, as guaranteed by the Charter of the United Nations. The sacrosanct character of the foundational doctrine of sovereign equality and its accompanying binding obligation to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity constitutes the very nature of the enduring legitimacy of the United Nations.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“In 1945, on the heels of the most destructive conflict the world had ever seen, facing an uncertain future characterized by the threat of nuclear annihilation, the United Nations was established by men and women of strategic vision. In San Francisco, my country proudly sat among the Organization’s founders. Our courageous political ancestors created this Organization in the belief that international law, based on the doctrine of sovereign equality of States, must supplant the use of force to settle differences between nations. This core abiding conviction of the founders must be repeatedly reconfirmed. The founders’ sense of purpose must also be reaffirmed. And the obligation they handed down to us must continue to be exercised by all with a solemn sense of responsibility.”
2008-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 63 (2008)
“Our historic responsibility is to ensure future generations a much better environment than that in which we live today. The Republic of Serbia remains devoted to achieving the goals of the United Nations and, along with other countries, is ready to work on further strengthening the integrity of the world Organization under its Charter.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We firmly believe that only equitable cooperation among countries and peoples, respect for basic human rights and fundamental freedoms, and mutual trust can guarantee stable international peace and security. At the same time, short of the political stability and economic prosperity of States, there is no successful cooperation at the bilateral, regional and global levels. The precondition for stability and dynamic economic development is equal access to new technologies and modern scientific achievements. (spoke in French) The Republic Serbia is willing and ready, alongside other countries, to be actively involved in the process of United Nations reform and revitalization in order to make the world Organization capable of effectively facing the challenges of our times.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We, the leaders of the United Nations Member States, are entrusted with a great responsibility to make every effort to ensure that all the diversity of this world be comprehended and accepted as the wealth of all, rather than as the cause of new divisions. Indeed, dialogue and mutual tolerance must prevail as the basic principles of our mutual relations, both within States and internationally. As a responsible member of the world community and international organizations, Serbia fully respects the Charter of the United Nations and the international legal order established by the Charter. Building a truly democratic society in our own country, we call for the democratization of international relations on the basis of the strict implementation of the Charter and other generally accepted norms and standards.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Within the Belgrade Initiative, Serbia has proposed that activities to stop global warming be carried out also at the regional level and that a regional centre for South-East Europe be set up in Belgrade to that end. We also emphasize that plans to reduce harmful emissions must take into consideration the level of the economic development of various countries as well. The complex of relations among different cultures, civilizations and religions is also a question that deserves to be at the focus of the attention of the United Nations. A truly multi-ethnic, multi- confessional and multi-cultural country, Serbia fully understands all the sensitivity of those questions and treats them with due attention. We are well aware that the world of the twenty-first century must not be based on intolerance on any ground.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Serbia therefore considers that only gathered together around common goals and objectives and united in action can we make a vigorous stand against such global threats to international peace and security as terrorism, bellicose extremism, mass poverty, organized crime, pandemic diseases and the harmful consequences of climate change. Global warming is surely a major problem of our age and rightly figures as one of the central topics on the agenda of the sixty-second session of the General Assembly. That phenomenon which, arguably, may affect all humankind knows no national borders and circumvents no part of the world. To solve it, therefore, we must address it very seriously, as it brooks no delay and all Member States must get on board.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Our experience to date makes us believe even more firmly that lasting, just and stable peace and security can be achieved only peacefully, through dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation. Serbia believes that the United Nations continues to be an irreplaceable international authority and mechanism for the prevention of crises and the resolution of conflicts. Successful and timely deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces is an important aspect of the maintenance of international peace and security. We support the efforts of the Organization to further strengthen the efficiency of its peacekeeping capacities.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“An excellent example of that cooperation was the recent joint exercise of the armies of Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, which provided abundant evidence of our three countries’ collective readiness to combat terrorism and any other threat to the security of our citizens. Serbia also initiated the signing of an agreement with neighbouring countries on cooperation in the protection against natural disasters. The recent catastrophic fires that engulfed Greece and the manner in which we reacted provided eloquent proof of the vital importance of mutual dependence and solidarity in the Balkan region. Numerous crises continue to plague the world. Some are dormant, some are escalating, while others threaten to provoke conflicts that could engender dangerous consequences, destruction and humanitarian catastrophes.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Today, as we face completely new and specific challenges that threaten international peace and security and pose a threat to overall development and prosperity, we are becoming increasingly aware of the great need perhaps greater than ever before for the United Nations. Terrorism is one of the greatest scourges of the present-day world. In order to fight and eradicate it effectively, we must take a global, coordinated approach, as well as vigorous action at the regional and country levels. Last year, Serbia hosted the regional summit meeting on terrorism, organized crime and corruption. As can be seen, we cooperate very closely with our neighbours in order to forestall threats.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“There are numerous examples of very successful initiatives and concrete forms of cooperation, the contribution of which to the promotion of peace and mutual trust is exceptionally important. There is hardly any field in which we have not yet established a mechanism of mutual cooperation. That proves unequivocally that this is a lasting, strategic orientation of all countries in the Balkans and a reflection of their common aspiration to the full inclusion of our region into European integration. (spoke in English) Global problems call for global answers, and all Member States are therefore required to participate actively in their solution.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“For its part, Serbia has done everything within its power to track down, arrest and transfer to The Hague those accused of war crimes, thereby demonstrating its commitment to cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to a successful end. That is not only Serbia’s international obligation; above all, it is our debt to ourselves and to our neighbours. By punishing criminals and building a stable and prosperous region, a common space integrated into the European Union, we can ensure a better future for all citizens. It is with pleasure and optimism that we note that, step by step, South-East Europe is becoming a region of good-neighbourliness and cooperation.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We are working hard to become a candidate member by the end of 2008. We are engaged in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration through the Partnership for Peace programme. We have thereby clearly evinced our acceptance of European values and our readiness to develop our country in accordance with the highest European standards. We are convinced that the European perspective on the entire Western Balkans is the most effective way to stabilize the situation and accelerate the development of all countries in the region. Only thus shall we overcome the problems inherited from the past and encourage a spirit of tolerance and commitment to the same goals and values, which will provide a basis for building stable and lasting peace in our region. Unfortunately, the question of war crimes continues to burden relations among Balkan countries.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“We therefore call on the legitimate representatives of the Kosovo Albanians to proceed to the resumed negotiations without prejudging the outcome, so that a compromise solution acceptable to both parties can be achieved, leading to long-term Serbian/Albanian reconciliation. This year, Serbia is presiding over the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. In that capacity, we have made every effort to make a maximum contribution to the strengthening of democracy, the protection of human rights and the rule of law the basic values of the oldest pan-European organization. We have also sought to strengthen synergy between the Council of Europe and the United Nations, especially in the field of human rights. It is in the strategic interest of Serbia to become a member of the European Union.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“My country is therefore steadfast in warning of the unforeseeable consequences of that unprincipled and dangerous policy, and remains committed to the search for a peaceful and compromise solution through dialogue and in full respect for the Charter of the United Nations. Serbia would also like to recall that threats have been bandied about of late that the Kosovo Provisional Institutions will unilaterally declare independence on 11 December. We point that out because of the fact that the international legal order would never be the same following a one-sided recognition of Kosovo’s independence, while many separatist movements the world over would exploit the newly established precedent. Many regions in the world would thereby be destabilized.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Today, negotiations are under way under the auspices of the Contact Group, but a legitimate decision on the future status of Kosovo can be taken only by the Security Council. Only a decision taken by that institution can be based on international law. Persistent in our request that the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia be respected, we call for the attainment of a compromise solution through diplomatic, legal and peaceful means, and not through war and violence. It is precisely for those reasons that democratic Serbia does not accept that the threat of violence made by the party we are negotiating with is an argument for redrawing the borders of legitimate democracies and for violating the norms of international law.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Serbia offers solutions that would definitively solve, through mutual agreement and with the implementation of European values and rules, an old inter-ethnic conflict and open the prospects of reconciliation and coexistence within a modern, democratic and European Serbia. My country is ready to compromise, yet we wish to point out that the legitimate interests of democratic Serbia and the specific needs of the threatened Serbian community in the province, as well as of other communities that have fallen victim to expulsion, such as the Roma and Gorani communities, must be respected. Let me recall that more than 200,000 Serbs have left Kosovo since 1999; to date, according to the official data of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, only 7,100 have returned.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“The sixty-second session of the General Assembly is taking place at a very important moment for Serbia as the negotiation process on the future status of its province of Kosovo and Metohija is under way. Proceeding from the firm position that the independence of Kosovo is unacceptable to Serbia, we have offered special rights and competences to Kosovo Albanians for the autonomous development of their community within the Republic of Serbia. In defence of the State sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, our negotiating team has offered a decentralization model based on European solutions that would protect the interests of Kosovo Albanians, as well as the threatened interests of the Serbian and other non-Albanian ethnic communities in the province, in an effective way.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“I welcome the opportunity to address, on behalf of the Republic of Serbia, the General Assembly of the United Nations, the highest body of the world family of sovereign nations. I congratulate Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on his election to his very responsible post. I also congratulate the newly elected President of the General Assembly, Mr. Srdjan Kerim, who hails from our region of South-East Europe. Serbia attaches exceptional importance to the role that the world Organization, and the Security Council in particular, play in maintaining international peace and security and in safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Member States. Proceeding from the Charter of the United Nations as the cornerstone of the current international legal order, Serbia calls for its consistent implementation.”
2007-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 62 (2007)
“Therefore, Serbia is firmly committed to making its full contribution to the strengthening of the role and mandate of the United Nations, as well as to multilateral dialogue leading to equal cooperation among States and peoples, to respect for human rights and freedoms, and to tolerance and mutual respect.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“The people of Serbia started doing this successfully and democratically in 2000, when they removed the regime largely responsible for the hardships that befell Serbia and the Balkans in the last decade of the twentieth century. Precisely for that reason, we are firmly committed to the successful completion of our cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. This is not merely our international obligation; it is also a question of moral values. As a responsible State and a part of the international community, Serbia is truly devoted to honouring the Charter of the United Nations and building democracy in the world.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Serbia supports the efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping, and my country is ready to make an active contribution to these operations. The mandate of peacekeeping operations is today more diverse than it used to be and includes conflict- prevention, peacekeeping, post-conflict reconstruction and assistance to long-term and sustainable development. Following several years of conflict, the Balkans is slowly but surely turning into a zone of good- neighbourliness and cooperation. Serbia is prepared to deal with the burden of its recent past in the interest of its Balkan and European future.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Serbia is genuinely committed to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, technological advancement and economic prosperity. Large-scale poverty, which unfortunately still prevails, deeply affects human dignity. Today, 21 September, we observe the International Day of Peace. It is important that it be observed each year in an effort to put an end to wars and violence in the world. Many crises have not yet been resolved, and some continue to escalate dangerously, while new challenges threaten to generate new conflicts, destruction and humanitarian catastrophes. An important aspect of preserving peace and security is efficient and timely deployment of United Nations peacekeeping forces.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“Before its future status is determined, it is of crucial importance to establish the rule of law 5 06-52988 and put an end to seven years of discrimination against the Serbs as well as other non-Albanian communities, who suffer as the target of extremism and terrorism. The autonomy offered by Serbia to Kosovo Albanians is broader than any currently enjoyed by any region or federal unit in Europe. In our view, that is a sustainable, stable and long-standing solution that would open a new chapter in the long and difficult history of Serbian-Albanian relations. Among other things, it would enable Kosovo to have direct access to international financial institutions, necessary for its economic recovery and development, which are in the interest of both Serbia and the region as a whole.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“But, of course, this does not imply that the Kosovo case is unique, different from all others. On the contrary, the Kosovo problem must be approached on the basis of recognized principles of international law and universal democratic values. If there is failure in that, we shall not be able to escape the vicious circle of old animosities and mutual recriminations. What it seeks for itself, Serbia seeks for the province, too: promotion of democracy, respect for human rights, economic prosperity and security. In order to contribute to that goal, Serbia has decided to ensure power supply this winter from its own resources to Kosovo’s population. It is in the interest of Serbia that Kosovo be stable, prosperous, economically viable, multi-ethnic and democratic.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“It is based on the principle of shared responsibility of all Balkan States. That is why none of the Balkan States must feel a loser as we move closer to a joint European future. Kosovo and Metohija is currently under United Nations interim administration. The settlement of Kosovo’s future status is one of the most difficult problems facing Serbia, the other Balkan countries and the international community, as well as the Albanian and Serbian people in Kosovo. That is why we believe that this problem should be addressed in a strategic and substantive manner in order to arrive at a solution that will take into account the full complexity of relations in the Balkans. That poses certain requirements: to face the past, to find sustainable solutions for the present and to open up avenues of cooperation in the future.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“We are aware that the Balkan countries can make progress and achieve their primary foreign policy objective — European Union and Euro-Atlantic membership — only through cooperation. In this regional framework, we also wish to actively cooperate in the fight against organized crime, corruption and international terrorism. As a concrete contribution to this goal, at my initiative, a meeting of the Heads of State of south-eastern Europe will soon be held in Belgrade, aimed at promoting communication and strengthening cooperation in the fight against these threats to the life and prosperity of us all. Serbia sees the Balkans as a common space, in which it is possible to achieve political and social stability. The achievement of that goal should be an important contribution to efforts conducive to full democratization and peace.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)
“In that spirit, Serbia is sincerely committed to the territorial integrity of all Balkan States and the preservation of their existing borders. In the same vein, the integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, based on the Dayton Accords, which may be changed by its citizens only with the consensus of all three constituent peoples, is an essential factor in the stability and further democratization of the region. By the same token, the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia is in the interest of democracy and the prosperity of all of south-eastern Europe. Strengthening regional cooperation is Serbia’s priority. That is why we believe that the prosperity of all neighbouring countries is in the interest of Serbia.”
2006-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 61 (2006)