KOSOVO AND METOHIJA

New York, 28 September 2007

PRESIDENT TADIC'S SPEECH AT THE BEGINING OF THE DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND PRISTINA ON THE KOSOVO STATUS

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to address you here today at the beginning of the direct negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina on the future status of Kosovo and Metohija.

We have always believed that this form of negotiations stands the best chance of arriving at a mutually-acceptable solution to this regional challenge.

As such, we welcome today’s meeting, which we hope will be the first in a series designed to reach such a solution — the one that fosters ethnic reconciliation and consolidates regional peace, pre-requisites to the democratic prosperity for all.

We will, however, fail in this endeavor if any of us approach these negotiations in a way that prejudges the process’ outcome. We are here to discuss the future status of Kosovo. This is the subject of our talks today.

I am reassured by the fact that our complicated task is made easier by the involvement of the United Nations — in particular the Security Council and the Contact Group Troika.

The facilitating role that is being played by Ambassadors Ishinger, Bocan-Harchenko, and Wisner is very welcome. I would like to express my thanks to them for their invaluable contributions to date. And I would like to express my strong hope that the Troika will continue to act as an honest broker in a process whose outcome must be confirmed by the Security Council.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Republic of Serbia recognizes that the moment at hand is one of great opportunity but also great responsibility.

We see this round of negotiations on future status as a great opportunity to forge a historic compromise, and relegate to the past the sources of conflict and strife that have characterized relations between Serbs and Albanians.

We also see this round of negotiations as a great responsibility, for the issue of future status affects not only the destiny of Serbs and Albanians but that of all the nations of the Western Balkans, and quite possibly beyond. If we are not careful, we may undermine the whole architecture of the international order.

Therefore, the strategic settlement we forge must fully conform to the principles of international law enshrined in the documents such as the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. It must both respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia as well as fulfill the legitimate right of Kosovo’s Albanian community to self-governance. And it would pave the way toward the full and rapid integration of all countries of the Western Balkans into the European Union—a fundamental goal we all share.

To achieve this historic compromise, what is needed most is a basic change in direction: a fundamental transformation of the relationship between Serbs and Albanians from one of historical suspicion and antagonism, to one of 21st-century trust and cooperation.

We can achieve this transformation if collectively embrace three mutually-reinforcing principles.

The first concerns reconciliation. Serbs and Albanians have to stop perpetuating the exclusionary and sometimes mythological accounts of the deeds of the past—accounts meant foremost to present own side as the victim and the other one as the aggressor. We need to reach out to one another in ways that acknowledge our commonalities, pay respect to our national tragedies, and emphasize our multiethnic destiny.

The second way we can contribute to the transformation of our relationship is to truly commit to peace. All sides must categorically reject any threat of the use of violence. It must not be an element at any stage of this peaceful process. For those who are prepared to use violence in pursuit of their political demands do not deserve a place at this table.

The third contribution to transforming our relationship centers on partnership under a common sovereign roof. So far, we have not seen each other as credible partners in a common enterprise. That now must change. Compromise must become the order of the day. We must build confidence in each other by sincerely demonstrating good will. We must come to understand that we are here not to maximize our narrowly conceived gains, but to consolidate our shared future. All this will be difficult, but it is absolutely necessary and it is possible.

So I ask the Albanians from Kosovo to look with us to the common future so that we can advance the welfare of our peoples and ensure the prosperity of the entire region. There is no substitute to working together.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In that spirit, I would like to conclude my opening remarks with a few simple words: The Republic of Serbia will continue to be a responsible actor. We will strive to be a regional source of stability and security in a time of political transformation. We are truly ready to make a compromise. We intend to be very flexible with regard to the scope of self governance for Kosovo. We are ready to bury for good the old antagonisms, and the old hatreds. We are ready to be bold, to be visionary, and to be a partner in peace.

In short, ladies and gentlemen, we are ready to do what it takes to live up to our democratic responsibilities—to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to the world community.

I truly hope that our interlocutors from Pristina will adopt the same attitude today. It takes two for a compromise.

Thank you very much for your attention, and now I will turn the floor to the Prime Minister of Serbia.