Thursday, 28 January 2010. | |
Address before the Sixteenth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union by H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Addis Ababa, 28 January 2010 |
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Esteemed Executive Council Chairman Kussa, Venerable Commission Chairperson Ping, Honorable Commissioners, My Fellow Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for the distinct privilege to address the African Union today. Allow me to emphasize my sincere appreciation to our Ethiopian hosts for their excellent organization and warm hospitality. My country has stood firmly with Mr. Chairman, My country also helped to build up Moreover, we have traditionally contributed to enhancing the peace and stability of the continent. Since the 1950s, my country has worked with the United Nations on a number of peacekeeping missions across Mr. Chairman, The In the political sphere, I want to underline that We believe that, in the interdependent world of the 21st century, Let me underline the fact that as an observer country, Mr. Chairman, This brings me to one of the most profound challenges my country and the international community face today—that is, the attempt by the ethnic-Albanian authorities of our southern In the name of the From the onset of this grave crisis, we decided to respond to the illegitimate effort to forcibly partition I have come here to plead that you maintain your principled reservation on the Kosovo issue. This case will constitute a strong precedent. It marks the first time ever that the Court has been asked to consider the legality of a unilateral attempt by an ethnic minority to secede from a UN member State in peacetime, in defiance of its Constitution and the will of the Security Council. Accordingly, the Court’s conclusions will have extensive consequences for the entire international community—perhaps for African Union states most of all. Imagine how many UN member States of this great continent would be affected by the legitimization of forcible partition. The borders of every multiethnic state could be threatened, producing instability in all corners of That is why it is imperative—why it is absolutely critical—for the Court to be allowed to do its job, unhindered by political pressures, such as further recognitions of Kosovo’s separatists. It is the only way to avoid doing any further damage to the legitimacy of the international system and the universality of the values we hold in common. And it is the only way to re-open the window of opportunity behind which stands the prospect of a negotiated, compromise solution to the province’s future status. In short, we ask all the non-recognizing countries represented in this room to stay the course, by not accepting Kosovo’s attempted secession. We do so not only in the name of our traditional ties of friendship, but in the name of working together to consolidate a rules-based international order for the 21st century—one in which secession is clearly seen as a dangerous threat, and one in which reaching agreement between the parties is the only legitimate, sustainable way forward. By holding the line—by maintaining respect for Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity—we will help ensure that international law continues to close in on separatists, present and future, who hope that Kosovo’s unilateralism will be allowed to prevail. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. |