Jeremic urges support for UN resolution

NEW YORK, July 30 (Tanjug) - Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic urged more than 120 countries that have not recognized Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence to support a resolution, which Serbia submitted to the UN General Assembly, declaring that a unilateral secession cannot be an acceptable way for resolving territorial issues.

Jeremic stated in an interview for the American news agency Associated Press that supporting the UN resolution is the best way to close Pandora's box opened last week by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) saying that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence does not constitute a violation of international law.

Jeremic underlined that there are close to 100 separatist movements in dozens of countries around the world, adding that the best way to prevent them from following in Kosovo's footsteps and declare independence is to endorse Serbia's draft resolution.

However, he added that winning approval for the draft resolution in the UN General Assembly will be a tall order, the agency reported.

Jeremic conferred Thursday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the situation in Kosovo-Metohija after the ICJ ruling.

Serbia submitted to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday a draft resolution stating that a unilateral secession cannot be an acceptable way for resolving territorial issues and urging the parties to find a mutually acceptable solution to all outstanding issues through peaceful dialogue.

Ban calls on all sides to a constructive dialogue

NEW YORK, July 30 (Tanjug) - During his meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in New York on Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated on Thursday said that he continues to appeal to all sides to support a constructive dialogue.

According to the information released by Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson, the Secretary-General said he plans to closely coordinate the next steps with the European Union, which has offered to facilitate a process of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade,

Ban and Jeremic also discussed the Serbian draft resolution on Kosovo following the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is contradictory to international law, which was announced on July 22.

Bank Ki-moon said that he continues to appeal to all sides to support a constructive dialogue and the settlement of all remaining issues, while encouraging political stability and discouraging provocations, it was stated in the announcement posted on the U.N. website.

Ban Ki-moon said he hopes Minister Jeremic will attend the disarmament conference, scheduled to be held in New York on September 24.

Yesterday, Serbia submitted to the U.N. General Assembly a draft resolution in which it clearly underlines that unilateral secession is not an acceptable way of resolving territorial issues and calls for finding a mutually acceptable solution through a dialogue.

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