Serbia

It is my great honour to address the General Assembly on behalf of the Republic of Serbia and inform members about the positions held by my country on some important global issues, developments in and around Serbia and the efforts that Belgrade has made with a view to reaching a just solution to problems facing the country and its neighbourhood. First of all, I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly at its sixty-eighth session for his excellent stewardship and organization of this debate and the leadership he has demonstrated in his high-level post. I wish him every success in the performance of his duties as President of the General Assembly. I assure him that he will enjoy the support of the Republic of Serbia in the discharge of his mandate. He can count on our assistance in bringing his ideas to fruition. At the same time, I would like to congratulate His Excellency Mr. Vuk Jeremic, former President of the General Assembly, on his courage and impeccable work in presiding over the Assembly for the past year and on the understanding he has demonstrated of the problems encountered all over the world. He represented Serbia in a dignified manner while being an impartial professional of high standing. The Republic of Serbia attaches great importance to the United Nations and the activities and cooperation carried out within its framework. We remain true to the Charter of the United Nations and the purposes and principles enshrined therein. We will endeavour, to the extent of our ability, to make a contribution to their implementation. We are also determined to participate in the new initiatives being taken within the United Nations. I welcome the well-chosen theme for this year’s session. The post-2015 development agenda and the preparations to be made in order to define a future global development framework are important issues, and the General Assembly is the right forum in which to hold these discussions and, more important, come to agreement on them. I am confident that the current Assembly session will be successful in the consideration of the agenda items highlighted by its President, namely, the contribution of women, youth and civil society to the  post-2015 development agenda and human rights and the rule of law in that agenda. The deadline for the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to which the Republic of Serbia fully subscribes, is fast approaching, and the United Nations and today’s world are at a crossroads. The process that has been initiated is an ambitious and complicated one. Even the outcome document of the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (resolution 66/288, annex), entitled “The future we want”, makes it incumbent upon us to take action. I hope that the work of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals will be a success. The Republic of Serbia appreciates the opportunity given to it, as a member of the Group, to help in the drafting process aimed at establishing sustainable development goals. For our part, we will do our utmost to contribute to defining sustainable development goals in clear terms. We believe that the sustainable development goals should be global in nature but, at the same time, have the capacity to be implemented in all countries, as countries differ so much in their capacity, level of development, priorities and policies. It goes without saying that, in identifying the sustainable development goals, priority should be accorded to energy efficiency, renewable resources and climate change. Key development goals should deal with sustainable economic development because, without it, it will be impossible to achieve social development, reduce hunger, poverty, unemployment and inequality, prevent further wage level disparities or protect the environment. I expect that attention will also be focused on implementing a global mechanism to prevent economic shocks from developed countries from spilling over to developing countries and destabilizing international financial markets. As part of the process, voices from both “have” and “have-not” countries should be equally valued. Developing countries should highlight the problems, and developed countries should act as partners in resolving them. As a new member of the Economic and Social Council for the period 2014 to 2016, the Republic of Serbia will participate in all Council activities related to the MDGs and setting the stage of the post- 2015 development agenda. However, there can be no development — sustainable, unsustainable, economic or social — in war-torn areas. Even today, at the outset of the twenty-first century, it is unfortunate that many war zones exist throughout the world. My country has participated in United Nations-led peacekeeping operations for decades. In many continents, memories of Serbia’s contributions to peace efforts remain very much alive. We will continue to apply lessons learned to find solutions to specific problems in the field and to improve our peacekeepers’ response capacities in terms of the challenges they will face in carrying out their mandates and with a view to achieving maximum performance. Serbian service and police personnel are engaged in multinational operations in the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Lebanon, Liberia, Uganda, the Middle East and Somali waters and soon in Mali as well. They all serve as proper representatives of their country through actions in favour of peace. We are prepared to increase, in the coming period, the size of our contribution and equipment in terms of national contingents and to make use of the available United Nations standby arrangements. In line with our policies based on Security Council resolutions, we will also promote the participation of our servicewomen in peace missions. Serbia’s engagement in United Nations missions and other multinational operations represents our firm contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Republic of Serbia has no ulterior motive behind sending its troops to other countries, other than to provide assistance. For that reason, we would like to see the personnel of the Serbian armed forces and the Ministry of the Interior welcomed and accepted both by the Governments of the friendly countries to which they are deployed and the local populations and that they would be seen as supportive partners, rather than as foreign troops and occupying forces. When seconding its personnel to multinational operations, Serbia has no interest — military, political or economic — but to help a friend in need and show the other contingents contributing to the operation that our troops may be counted upon to help. Apart from wars, there is another omnipresent global danger looming large over the core values of the  United Nations. That danger is terrorism, which poses a threat to fundamental human rights and creates an obstacle to business, thus undermining development as well. As a State party to most international counter- terrorism conventions, the Republic of Serbia attaches great significance to international activities aimed at suppressing terrorism. And we are adapting our domestic legislation to stem the scourge. We unequivocally support the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and all of the relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council. Serbia, as a victim of terrorist attacks that have even taken the lives of children — the most innocent segment of its population — understands well the need for regional and broader counter-terrorism cooperation. Because terrorism knows no boundaries, States Members of the United Nations must be ready to cooperate without compromise, prejudice, or limitations and without any exceptions or special cases allowing terrorist actions against one’s own people under the pretext of so-called “freedom fighting”. In that context, it is of the utmost importance to make progress on the adoption of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism. Serbia strongly condemns terrorism in any shape or form, without regard to who the perpetrators may be, wherever such acts may be committed or for whatever purpose. On the other hand, no one has the right, Serbia included, to limit itself to statements made in condemnation. Victims of terrorist acts worldwide, those injured in attacks or the families of victims have the right to demand that persons responsible for such acts be brought to justice and that any further recruitment of terrorists or financing of their organizations end. The Republic of Serbia attaches great importance to the promotion and protection of human rights and is striving to fully comply with the internationally recognized standards in that area. Serbia has taken a step forward regarding the enjoyment of human rights by minority groups, particularly national minorities, women and children and persons with special needs. Serbia’s law on the protection of the rights and freedoms of national minorities surpasses international conventions in many aspects. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia unambiguously prohibits the assimilation of national minorities and the undertaking of measures designed to artificially alter the ethnic structure of populations in areas where national minorities traditionally reside in large numbers. The Republic of Serbia is a multi-ethnic, multireligious and multicultural country. Dozens of ethnic groups and several religious communities live there peacefully, and its tradition of living side by side based on tolerance and respect of others has been long, genuine and deep-rooted. Drawing upon our own experience, we have wholeheartedly embraced the Alliance of Civilizations initiative. We have actively promoted intercultural and interfaith dialogue in all domains and at all levels, as that is the best way to overcome divisions caused by cultural, linguistic, religious or any other diversity. Generally, in the period under review, Serbia has achieved considerable progress in the protection of human rights, as noted in the presentation of the second universal periodic review, in Geneva in January, and during the visit to Belgrade by Ms. Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We are ready to share our expertise and experience in the human rights field with our friends around the world. The Republic of Serbia considers such cooperation a friendly exchange, not interference in the internal affairs of other countries or as one-sided and irresponsible preaching and tutelage accompanied by conditions or blackmail. The Republic of Serbia is a party to nearly all international instruments and initiatives in the field of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. It fully complies with the obligations it has undertaken. Serbia’s commitment to the Arms Trade Treaty, which we recently signed, is based on the belief that the establishment of legally binding international standards in that field is a significant contribution to eliminating the illegal arms trade, fighting international terrorism and organized crime and promoting peace, security and stability — in other words, the alleviation of human suffering. In accordance with its agreed commitments, my country has counted and inventoried all weapons in its possession and has made the information available. It has also allowed the inspection of its arsenals. Our partners know where each piece of Serbian weaponry is located. Nothing is kept secret. We have done so not only because we were bound to do so, but to show and prove that Serbia is truly committed to peace and cooperation with its neighbours.  Contributions to peace can also be made through disarmament. Never in its history has Serbia fought a war of aggression, and the weapons now in its possession are only meant for its defence. Furthermore, Serbia has never posed a threat to any country. It has never possessed weapons of mass destruction and has no intention of including weapons of mass destruction in its visible, quantifiable and verifiable arsenal. We are aware that progress on disarmament and arms control hinges not only on us. Success is related to developments carried out on a wider political and strategic stage. In the little more than one year since I took office, I have visited almost all of the countries with borders in common with Serbia. I have spoken with the leaders of all of the neighbouring countries, including at international events. In that manner, I wanted to convey the message that Serbia has opted for regional cooperation and working together with its neighbours to address the problems we share in common. On behalf of Serbia, I have made symbolic gestures to effectively demonstrate that we wish to reconcile with the peoples living side by side with us. I am confident that those gestures will significantly contribute to reconciliation and help to right the wrongs of the past. We are now looking forward to the future. It is our desire to foster good relations with all neighbouring countries by building a network of roads, railway lines and bridges; to try to make our mark on the international market; to promote our energy systems; to protect the environment; to cooperate in disaster relief; to develop cross-border projects; to have trade links and; to expand our cultural, scientific, educational, technological and sports cooperation. Our common goal is to improve the living standards of everyone living in the countries of the region. In comparison with our neighbours, we can compete only in terms of seeking to attain more human rights protection, whereas in all other respects, we will cooperate and help encourage one another to perform better. Serbia’s message to its European partners is that the time for conflicts, distrust and disputes is now behind us. Our country is looking forward to the future and to becoming a member of the European Union. It has been decided, and we trust that Serbia will start negotiations with the European Union no later than January 2014. I hope that Serbia will be able to inform the next General Assembly session about the outcome of those talks, which we believe will not last long or continue indefinitely, as well as about Serbia’s ongoing progress towards becoming a fully fledged member of the European Union. At the same time, Serbia has revived old alliances and forged new ones throughout the world, creating strategic partnerships with countries in the East, West, North and South. Serbia has been active in all regional initiatives and organizations, and has recently chaired some of them, making a remarkable impression on other members. As a result, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has entrusted Serbia with its chairmanship for 2015. The OSCE chairmanship, to be held by Switzerland in 2014 and then by Serbia in 2015, serves as a good example of how to cooperate within international organizations. It will give Serbia an opportunity to make a constructive contribution to the enhancement of the OSCE, especially since 2015 will mark the fortieth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, one of the most important OSCE instruments. We are confident that our activities on regional initiatives and our forthcoming chairmanship of the OSCE will make Serbia an ideal candidate for taking on greater responsibility within the United Nations system, consequently making it possible for it to be entrusted with even more responsibilities and duties, when the time comes. The unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, in 2008, has been creating problems and undermining a system established by the United Nations at its start. The United Nations has never recognized an illegal secession attempt by Kosovo’s provisional institutions of self-governance, but a number of countries, irrespective of the norms of international law, have recognized Kosovo as an independent State. Under constant pressure and through blackmail on the part of large and powerful States, some other countries, including Serbia’s traditional allies, have unfortunately recognized Kosovo as an independent State. Serbia has responded to such acts in a measured, diplomatic and political manner, refraining from any use of force, to safeguard its sovereignty and its territorial integrity. Faced with a situation where its vital national interests were at stake, a country would rarely demonstrate such a degree of level-headedness. We are convinced that such problems, including the status of Kosovo and Metohija, should be resolved peacefully. For that reason, we take heed of calls by the General Assembly in 2010 to start negotiations with representatives of the authorities in Pristina. Following  the efforts of Lady Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, we have made arrangements with the Albanians of Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia has thus shown that its intention was to protect the Serb community in Kosovo and Metohija as far as possible, to ensure that all its inhabitants in the southern Serbian province of Kosovo could also lead normal lives on a day-to-day basis. Let us underscore that Belgrade and Pristina have only reached agreement over clearly defined matters, such as local elections and the establishment of a community of Serbian boroughs in Kosovo and Metohija, and that the Republic of Serbia has not recognized the independence of Kosovo in any shape or form. The first agreement, which we promised to respect fully, does not mean in any way that the Republic of Serbia intends to approve Kosovo’s entry into the United Nations and other international organizations, where membership is the sole prerogative of sovereign States. The United Nations has been present in Kosovo and Metohija for more than 14 years. We believe in the United Nations, which was entrusted with administering this part of Serbia in 1999. Therefore, we ask that the mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) remain unchanged, that its staff not be downsized and that its activities be reinforced. UNMIK plays an indispensable role. It should coordinate the work of all international forces present in Kosovo and Metohija within a neutral framework, as stated in Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). That resolution defined the tasks of the United Nations and reaffirmed that Kosovo and Metohija is a province forming an integral part of the Republic of Serbia. We also support the work of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). We request that the European Union respect its own principles as far as the province of Kosovo and Metohija is concerned. We expect EULEX, by maintaining a neutral approach, to continue assisting in the development of democratic institutions within the province and in monitoring the human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanians, since only their fundamental human rights are under threat. As far as Serbia is concerned, there is yet another pending task before the United Nations weighing on the conscience of its Member States, one which must not remain unaddressed, so that neither we nor future Presidents have to seek justice by repeating that a crime remains to be resolved. We wish to recall that special rapporteur Dick Marty, a Swiss senator, has shown, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has confirmed, that some Albanian leaders in Kosovo and Metohija organized the kidnapping and killing of Serbs whose organs were then harvested and sold illegally. We were not in a position to initiate legal proceedings for those crimes, which were committed towards the beginning of the twenty-first century, crimes that have so far not occurred anywhere else in the world. We still believe that it is necessary for the United Nations to be included in investigating those crimes, based on a report by the Council of Europe. Serbia appeals for the support of friends in its efforts to shed light on the truth behind those and other crimes so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice. In April, I spoke before the Assembly in the thematic debate on the role of the international criminal justice system in reconciliation and about the work of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY). We said then that the ICTY had abused the mandate given to it by the Security Council; that it had not helped the reconciliation process in the territory of the former Yugoslavia; that it had compromised the idea behind the international criminal justice system; that it had acted under political pressure; that it was not independent; that it had acted differently in similar circumstances; that it had acquitted some war criminals, in some instances even failing to indict them; that it had humiliated Serb victims of the secession wars of the former Yugoslavia; and that it had attempted to paint a revisionist picture of history. We continue to hold the same points of view. By accepting the integrity of the Tribunal, we have not only earned the right to criticize its work but also to propose a solution. Nevertheless, while its intention was not just to criticize this institution, Serbia suggested certain measures that might, to some extent, help redress the wrongdoings of the Tribunal. We request the United Nations and the ICTY to find a legal solution that ensures that Serb convicts are sent to serve their prison sentence in Serbia, so that justice may be done more effectively, primarily as a way of helping them reintegrate into society. That does not mean that we challenge the verdicts reached or that we are minimizing the crimes committed by those persons. We simply want to help those concerned return to normal life, once they come out of prison, as part of the Serbian community.  Serbia respects every State Member of the United Nations and offers each and every one of them its friendship and trust. We expect that to be reciprocated in equal measure. The Serbia of today and tomorrow deserves to be trusted.