http://www.serbianna.com/news/2007/01551.shtml
Serbianna, Agencies - April 20, 2007
China against Kosovo independence, Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia - The Serbian government said
Wednesday it had received support from a senior
Chinese official for its opposition to a U.N. plan
that would give independence to Serbia's breakaway
province of Kosovo.
Russia has already expressed support for the Serb
position on Kosovo, which has been a U.N. protectorate
since 1999. The province's majority ethnic Albanians
have been seeking independence, but Belgrade wants to
retain at least formal control over the area.
The Serbian government said in a statement that
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said during a meeting
with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that China "is
against imposed solutions and deadlines" that would
quickly determine the province's future status.
Hui Liangyu urged more talks between Belgrade and
Kosovo "so a negotiated solution, acceptable to both
sides, is found that would maintain peace and
stability in the region," the government statement
said.
China had no immediate comment on the Serbian
statement, a duty officer at the Chinese Foreign
Ministry press section said Wednesday. There were no
notices or statements about this issue on the Foreign
Ministry's Web site.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns has said
the U.S. considers independence the only option for
Kosovo and has suggested that the U.S. may recognize
Kosovo's split from Serbia, even if Russia carries out
its threat to veto the U.N. plan when it comes to a
vote at the Security Council.
Kostunica reiterated Belgrade's stand that Kosovo, its
historic heartland, must remain within Serbia. He said
Serbia "greatly appreciates" the Chinese view on
Kosovo.
Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic also met
Hui, thanking him in a statement for China's
"principal stand in regards to Kosovo's future
status."
"Serbia will use all available diplomatic and legal
means to protect its territorial integrity and
sovereignty," Tadic said after the meeting.
Serbia has been seeking support from Russia and China
in its bid to keep Kosovo within its borders.
Belgrade has suggested it relies on Russian and
Chinese veto at the U.N. Security Council, which will
have the final say on the U.N. plan that proposes
internationally supervised statehood for the province.
The Chinese call for more negotiations reflects
Serbian and Russian demands, despite U.S. calls for a
quick acceptance of the U.N. plan in the Security
Council.
U.N. special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who has presented
his proposal to the council, said that there was no
point to more negotiations because the Serbs and
Kosovo Albanians are very much apart on Kosovo's
future status.
Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity regarding Kosovo,
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to arrive
in Belgrade later Wednesday for a two-day visit.
Kosovo has been run by a U.N. administration and
patrolled by NATO peacekeepers since the end of a NATO
air war to halt a crackdown by Serb government troops
against ethnic Albanian rebels seeking independence.
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=38310
Government of Serbia - September 13, 2007
Only a compromise solution for Kosovo-Metohija status
issue guarantees regional stability
Beijing – Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk
Jeremic said today that only a solution acceptable to
both sides for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija
could provide regional stability.
At a lecture held at the Institute of International
Studies in Beijing, Jeremic expressed gratitude to
China for its principled support to Serbia in the
effort to find a solution based on compromise,
acceptable to both sides.
China’s principled stand was always there and will
never be forgotten, stressed the Minister, and he
added that China’s stand on the issue has brought the
two countries closer together, just as Serbia’s stand
regarding Taiwan did.
Jeremic said that only such a solution could secure
viable, quick and harmonious economic growth in the
entire region, as well as political stability, which
is an essential condition for the economic growth of
any country.
According to Jeremic, attempts to impose solutions are
universally unacceptable in the international
community, and not just for Serbia.
A solution, such as the recognition of the separatist
ambitions of the Kosovo Albanians, would lead to the
forcible breakup of Serbia and would give a blow to
the very essence of international order.
He warned that this would set a precedent which could
jeopardize stability in southeast Europe, and threaten
security in many other parts of the world.
He said that there is a huge difference between stands
taken by Belgrade and Pristina, but expressed
expectation that a compromise is still possible if the
two sides show sincere willingness to transcend their
differences for the sake of peace and reconciliation.
The Minister said that Belgrade is against setting an
artificial deadline for concluding the process of
negotiations.
Serbia will continue making efforts to strengthen
cooperation with China, said Jeremic and pointed to
the fact that China today is a strong factor in global
political stability, economic growth and social
equality.
Jeremic also met in Beijing with Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi and stressed on the occasion that
Serbia attaches great importance to relations with
China.
Serbia values China’s positive role on the
international scene said Jeremic and pledged to make
efforts to further develop bilateral relations.
Yang Jiechi said that China will never alter its
policy of developing relations with Serbia regardless
of the situation in the West Balkans and in the world.
He gave a positive assessment of relations between
China and Serbia and expressed willingness to widen
cooperation.
Jeremic and Yang Jiechi signed a protocol on
cooperation between the two ministries.
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=38396
Government of Serbia - September 15, 2007
Serbia gets China’s support for stand on Kosovo-Metohija status issue
Belgrade, Sept 15, 2007 – Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk
Jeremic said in an interview for today’s edition of the daily
Vecernje Novosti that China will not support an imposed solution
which is not based on a compromise for the future status of Kosovo-
Metohija in the Security Council, and is not in favour of setting
deadlines in the negotiations on the status of the province.
The Serbian government’s official website presents the interview in
full.
On recent visit to China and talks with Chinese Vice-President Zeng
Qinghong and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi:
Talks were conducted in an excellent atmosphere! We had meetings at
the highest level, and our hosts began discussion on the issue
themselves, stating that international issues must not be settled
through use of force. We reached agreement concerning questions which
are important for our countries, and Serbia got support for its stand
on the Kosovo status issue.
Is this the first time that Serbia has openly received firm
reassurance from this permanent member of the Security Council that
it will not support a solution which is not acceptable both to
Belgrade and Pristina?
China always had a principled on the Kosovo status issue, based on
international law. That was visible during the Security Council
debate held in June. But until this point it was not expressed so
explicitly.
How much will the Chinese stand affect other Security Council members?
It is certain that the stand of an important and permanent Security
Council member on the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija
is very significant. Undoubtedly it will have an affect upon all
forums and organisations of which China is a member, including the
most important one, the Security Council.
(Source: R. Rozoff via yugoslaviainfo@yahoogroups;com)
Serbianna, Agencies - April 20, 2007
China against Kosovo independence, Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia - The Serbian government said
Wednesday it had received support from a senior
Chinese official for its opposition to a U.N. plan
that would give independence to Serbia's breakaway
province of Kosovo.
Russia has already expressed support for the Serb
position on Kosovo, which has been a U.N. protectorate
since 1999. The province's majority ethnic Albanians
have been seeking independence, but Belgrade wants to
retain at least formal control over the area.
The Serbian government said in a statement that
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said during a meeting
with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica that China "is
against imposed solutions and deadlines" that would
quickly determine the province's future status.
Hui Liangyu urged more talks between Belgrade and
Kosovo "so a negotiated solution, acceptable to both
sides, is found that would maintain peace and
stability in the region," the government statement
said.
China had no immediate comment on the Serbian
statement, a duty officer at the Chinese Foreign
Ministry press section said Wednesday. There were no
notices or statements about this issue on the Foreign
Ministry's Web site.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns has said
the U.S. considers independence the only option for
Kosovo and has suggested that the U.S. may recognize
Kosovo's split from Serbia, even if Russia carries out
its threat to veto the U.N. plan when it comes to a
vote at the Security Council.
Kostunica reiterated Belgrade's stand that Kosovo, its
historic heartland, must remain within Serbia. He said
Serbia "greatly appreciates" the Chinese view on
Kosovo.
Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic also met
Hui, thanking him in a statement for China's
"principal stand in regards to Kosovo's future
status."
"Serbia will use all available diplomatic and legal
means to protect its territorial integrity and
sovereignty," Tadic said after the meeting.
Serbia has been seeking support from Russia and China
in its bid to keep Kosovo within its borders.
Belgrade has suggested it relies on Russian and
Chinese veto at the U.N. Security Council, which will
have the final say on the U.N. plan that proposes
internationally supervised statehood for the province.
The Chinese call for more negotiations reflects
Serbian and Russian demands, despite U.S. calls for a
quick acceptance of the U.N. plan in the Security
Council.
U.N. special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who has presented
his proposal to the council, said that there was no
point to more negotiations because the Serbs and
Kosovo Albanians are very much apart on Kosovo's
future status.
Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity regarding Kosovo,
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to arrive
in Belgrade later Wednesday for a two-day visit.
Kosovo has been run by a U.N. administration and
patrolled by NATO peacekeepers since the end of a NATO
air war to halt a crackdown by Serb government troops
against ethnic Albanian rebels seeking independence.
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=38310
Government of Serbia - September 13, 2007
Only a compromise solution for Kosovo-Metohija status
issue guarantees regional stability
Beijing – Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk
Jeremic said today that only a solution acceptable to
both sides for the future status of Kosovo-Metohija
could provide regional stability.
At a lecture held at the Institute of International
Studies in Beijing, Jeremic expressed gratitude to
China for its principled support to Serbia in the
effort to find a solution based on compromise,
acceptable to both sides.
China’s principled stand was always there and will
never be forgotten, stressed the Minister, and he
added that China’s stand on the issue has brought the
two countries closer together, just as Serbia’s stand
regarding Taiwan did.
Jeremic said that only such a solution could secure
viable, quick and harmonious economic growth in the
entire region, as well as political stability, which
is an essential condition for the economic growth of
any country.
According to Jeremic, attempts to impose solutions are
universally unacceptable in the international
community, and not just for Serbia.
A solution, such as the recognition of the separatist
ambitions of the Kosovo Albanians, would lead to the
forcible breakup of Serbia and would give a blow to
the very essence of international order.
He warned that this would set a precedent which could
jeopardize stability in southeast Europe, and threaten
security in many other parts of the world.
He said that there is a huge difference between stands
taken by Belgrade and Pristina, but expressed
expectation that a compromise is still possible if the
two sides show sincere willingness to transcend their
differences for the sake of peace and reconciliation.
The Minister said that Belgrade is against setting an
artificial deadline for concluding the process of
negotiations.
Serbia will continue making efforts to strengthen
cooperation with China, said Jeremic and pointed to
the fact that China today is a strong factor in global
political stability, economic growth and social
equality.
Jeremic also met in Beijing with Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi and stressed on the occasion that
Serbia attaches great importance to relations with
China.
Serbia values China’s positive role on the
international scene said Jeremic and pledged to make
efforts to further develop bilateral relations.
Yang Jiechi said that China will never alter its
policy of developing relations with Serbia regardless
of the situation in the West Balkans and in the world.
He gave a positive assessment of relations between
China and Serbia and expressed willingness to widen
cooperation.
Jeremic and Yang Jiechi signed a protocol on
cooperation between the two ministries.
http://www.srbija.sr.gov.yu/vesti/vest.php?id=38396
Government of Serbia - September 15, 2007
Serbia gets China’s support for stand on Kosovo-Metohija status issue
Belgrade, Sept 15, 2007 – Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk
Jeremic said in an interview for today’s edition of the daily
Vecernje Novosti that China will not support an imposed solution
which is not based on a compromise for the future status of Kosovo-
Metohija in the Security Council, and is not in favour of setting
deadlines in the negotiations on the status of the province.
The Serbian government’s official website presents the interview in
full.
On recent visit to China and talks with Chinese Vice-President Zeng
Qinghong and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi:
Talks were conducted in an excellent atmosphere! We had meetings at
the highest level, and our hosts began discussion on the issue
themselves, stating that international issues must not be settled
through use of force. We reached agreement concerning questions which
are important for our countries, and Serbia got support for its stand
on the Kosovo status issue.
Is this the first time that Serbia has openly received firm
reassurance from this permanent member of the Security Council that
it will not support a solution which is not acceptable both to
Belgrade and Pristina?
China always had a principled on the Kosovo status issue, based on
international law. That was visible during the Security Council
debate held in June. But until this point it was not expressed so
explicitly.
How much will the Chinese stand affect other Security Council members?
It is certain that the stand of an important and permanent Security
Council member on the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija
is very significant. Undoubtedly it will have an affect upon all
forums and organisations of which China is a member, including the
most important one, the Security Council.
(Source: R. Rozoff via yugoslaviainfo@yahoogroups;com)