Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said that Serbia has in the past two years through its diplomatic struggle for Kosovo-Metohija preserved peace and stability in the region, launched a historic process before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague and kept the number of countries recognising the self-proclaimed independence on a minimum level.

Jeremic told the daily Danas that Belgrade in the coming period will do everything to restart the negotiating process on the status of Kosovo-Metohija and to keep that issue separated from Serbia’s European integration.

Two years ago, Serbia was faced with a forced attempt to grab 15% of its territory, that some of the most powerful countries supported. We have opted for a diplomatic, patient and energetic struggle, uncommon for this region, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He said that the greatest success for Serbia in the past two years has been the fact it has preserved peace and stability in the region despite the destabilising behaviour of Pristina authorities.

We managed to keep the international recognition of the self-proclaimed independence on a low level, despite heavy pressure. We fought for the process before the ICJ and many countries have shown interest in that process, he pointed out.

The process of European integration continued at the same time and the year 2009 was very successful both in the diplomatic struggle for Kosovo-Metohija as well as in Serbia’s progress towards EU membership, Jeremic said.

The Foreign Minister said that the greatest failure of Serbian authorities was when in a reaction to the self-proclaimed independence by Pristina in February 2008, violence in the streets of Belgrade was not prevented.

Asked about the challenges to come, Jeremic said that the biggest challenge will be the moment when the ICJ announces its opinion on the legality of the unilateral independence proclaimed by Pristina, after which Serbia will do everything to resume the dialogue on the status.

As for the north of Kosovo-Metohija, it is important that no radical step are made at this sensitive period, said Jeremic, stressing that the EU formally distancing itself from the plan of international civilian representative Pieter Feith is very important for Serbia.