UN's Ban, Serbia's Jeremic discuss Kosovo

30/07/2010

NEW YORK, United States -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic met in New York on Thursday (July 29th) to discuss a resolution filed at the UN General Assembly by Serbia. It was in response to last week's opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which concluded Kosovo's independence declaration in February 2008 did not violate international law. Jeremic briefed Ban on Belgrade's position, which urges compromise, rather than secession through "unilateral moves". Belgrade wants UN help in organising talks with Kosovo. Ban promised UN support in co-ordinating future steps with the EU, which has offered to facilitate dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.

Meanwhile, media in Pristina reported on Friday that the EU is expected to file a resolution on Kosovo to the UN Security Council. The daily Express says a draft resolution has been circulated to all EU member states, as well as to the US government. While Serbia reportedly wants to discuss all remaining issues, the EU document reportedly encourages dialogue on economic matters, regional co-operation, and democratic development, without any reference to Kosovo's status. (Express, Lajm, Kosova Sot - 30/07/10; UN News Centre, Radio Free Europe, Tanjug, B92, RTS- 29/07/10)