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Address to the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement by H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremić Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Tehran 30 July 2008 |
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Mr. Secretary-General, Dear Colleagues, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me begin by thanking our hosts, the Islamic Republic of Iran, for the excellent organization and warm hospitality we have all felt throughout the 15th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement in I come before you today representing a country that is an observer, yet also the largest successor to a co-founder of the Movement, the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. Our capital, Our then president, Josip Broz Tito, was also the Movement’s first Secretary-General. His impact on As one of the founding fathers of the Movement, Tito worked hard to ease the ideological tensions created by the Cold War. Together with other statesmen, he tirelessly strove to promote greater respect for international law and the enhancement of cooperation among While the world has changed dramatically since the founding of the Movement, it is fair to say that the parameters of the contemporary international system, which continues to be rooted in the Charter of the United Nations, have been largely shaped by the dedicated work of generations of this Organization’s visionaries. Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to say to you that despite the As an observer-state, we strongly support the indispensable, just demands of this Organization for a more equitable global community dedicated to promote the democratization of international relations, development and human rights. And in that spirit allow me to recall the words of President Tito, spoken at the First Non-Aligned Summit, held in Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fifth Paragraph of the draft Tehran Final Document states that the “Movement will continue to uphold the principles of sovereignty, the sovereign equality of States, [and] territorial integrity” and “defend, promote and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means.” The Fifteenth Paragraph reads, inter alia, that “UN Member States should renew their commitment to defend, preserve and promote the UN Charter and international law, with the aim of making further progress to achieving full respect for international law.” Bearing the above in mind, I take this opportunity to inform you of the attempt at secession by The unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo’s secessionists constitutes a blatant violation of the UN Charter and runs counter to Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)’s binding obligation on all member-states to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country. A great majority of both the UN’s and the Movement’s member states have continued to abide by these principles, and have not recognized this attempt at secession. On behalf of the Questioning the core precept of sovereignty anywhere in the world is a dangerous game fraught with precedent and political consequence. International legal order and global democratic governance are in danger of being undermined. As a result, we find ourselves facing a perilous impasse today. Ladies and Gentlemen, Consistent with our values, we have ruled out the use of force in solving this dispute, for we believe that peace and security can only be consolidated through dialogue, not imposition; through agreement, not compulsion; and through law, not unilateralism. It is in that framework that I wish to inform you of In our view, many States would benefit from the legal guidance an ICJ advisory opinion would confer. It would enable them to make a more thorough judgment on the issue. In addition, an ICJ advisory opinion, rendered in a non-contestable, non-adversarial manner, would go a long way towards calming tensions, avoiding further negative developments in the region and beyond, and facilitating efforts at reconciliation among all parties involved. By having recourse to the ICJ, the General Assembly would ensure that the Kosovo issue becomes a symbol of renewed resolve towards the rule of law by the international community. Ladies and Gentlemen, Our forthcoming initiative is in full harmony with the Sixteenth Paragraph of the draft Tehran Final Document which states that the Movement “invites also the General Assembly […] to request advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on legal questions arising within the scope of their activities.” On behalf of the ____ My friends, I have to admit that the occasion that brings us together is an emotional one for me and my country. We feel such an overwhelming sense of solidarity with the nations represented here today. Given the history of my country's role in the founding of the Non-Aligned Movement, it almost feels like visiting home again. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you in advance for your support, while expressing my profound hope that, with your help, a small country like mine will not be denied its right to ask a simple, elementary question. Think of the awful precedent that would be created should any country be denied this fundamental right. And so I say in conclusion that together, we can strengthen the values that bind us to one another—and help consolidate the principles that have done so much to construct a more just and even-handed global society within the framework of the United Nations. By supporting Thank you for your attention. |