KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

Address Before a Meeting of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process

by H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia,
Pomorie, 20 May 2008

Mr. Chairman,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like first to thank our Bulgarian colleague as well as the Secretary-General of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process for organizing this important event.

Regional cooperation is our prelude to Europe. It introduces to the Western Balkans the idea of Europe in the 21st century—an idea that aims to fuse national interests to the common values of the unprecedented enterprise that has come to be the European Union.

Each of our countries has felt the positive, tangible effects of the European project. Serbia is no exception. The practical benefits of the accession process are upon us. That is why the April 29th historic signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the EU and my country has enabled us to pronounce that the contours of Serbia’s future in Europe have at last been solidly traced.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I carry with me Serbia’s reaffirmation for the accelerated pursuit of a political course that leads to full membership in the European Union.

The decisive victory of pro-European forces in the May 11th parliamentary election signals with sonorous clarity the endorsement of Serbia’s European choice. Of our choice to live in a democratic, confident, and prosperous Serbia in which political affairs are conducted with transparency and fairness; in which economic policies are enacted in the spirit of a common market; in which social programs are implemented within the framework of the longstanding tradition of European social democracy; and in which human and minority rights are enacted with a determined steadfastness of purpose.

We expect that this victory at the polls will lead to the formation of a stable, pro-European government, one fully dedicated to the implementation of the unmistakable will of a strong majority of our citizens. And from this strength we are duty-bound to build. To build our bridge to Europe, on the foundation of our national pride and integrity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Serbia will continue to act with utmost responsibility. We will take all appropriate measures to live up to our international commitments, including the full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. And we will deepen regional cooperation, actively participating in all initiatives.

But our duty does not end there. The sine qua non for consolidating regional success lies in working together to find an acceptable solution to the future status of our southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. This has only become more apparent since the February 17th unilateral declaration of independence by the provisional authorities in Pristina, and the regrettable decision by some to recognize it.

I am confident that a truly European way forward can be found—one resulting in a compromise that addresses the legitimate right to broad self-governance for Kosovo’s Albanians, while preserving a democratic Serbia that is whole and free, fully integrated into Europe, and actively engaged with the world community.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

By looking back on the strength of spirit of the founders of Europe—by seeking inspiration in their leadership and example—we can come to implement their vision, and build on their bequest.

It is up to us to maintain, to preserve, and in some ways to perfect: to transmit the wisdom of our success to the next generation, and to secure our place in the “organized and living Europe” that Robert Schuman outlined so long ago.

If we seize the truly historical opportunity before us to set our values in stone and align them with our strategic interests, then I believe that we can clear the hurdle we all face and come to a solution on Kosovo that advances the cause of our common destiny.
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I leave you with the words of a great European: “We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put into it is ours.”

I propose that we put concord and consensus into it—solidarity and understanding, too. Let those ingredients be what is ours. Let us combine them so that together they make up the substance of our destiny, the basis of our deeds, and the groundwork of our European endeavors to come.

Thank you for your attention.