SERBIA WILLING TO IMPROVE ITS RELATIONS WITH TURKEY
Hurriyet
Nov 10 2008
Turkey
ANKARA – Turkey is a very important country in the region and now a
member of the U.N. Security Council. It is very active in all regional
initiatives, we want to have good relations with Turkey. I came to
build our relations in all areas,’ says Ambassador Curgus
The ambassador of Serbia said his return after almost eight months
did not mean his country had withdrawn its objection to Ankara’s
recognition of an independent Kosovo.
Serbia recalled its ambassador to Ankara, Vladimir Curgus, in a show
of protest shortly after Turkey became one of the first countries to
recognize the breakaway region’s independence in February.
"I must say it is an illegal decision by Kosovo to declare
independence. But Turkey is responsible for its own decisions,"
Curgus told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in his first
interview with the media after returning in late October.
He said he came back, "not because we accept the recognition, but
because Serbia wants to make relations with Ankara better than they
are at the moment."
The ambassador said, "Turkey is a very important country in the region
and a member of the United Nations Security Council. It is very
active in all regional initiatives. We want to have good relations
with Turkey. I came to build our relationship in all areas."
But he said their difference with the Turkish government on the Kosovo
issue remained unresolved.
"No, we have not closed the (Kosovo) file," he said. "We do not agree
that Kosovo is a separate territory from Serbia. Serbia does not accept
the political decision of Turkey (to recognise its independence)."
Turkey multinational country
The process in the run-up to the recognition of Kosovo’s independence
gained momentum early this year with the United States and leading
members of the European Union pledging support. The critical decision
as to recognition sparked fears that Kosovo, populated by 2 million
Albanians, could set a precedent for other states, including Turkey,
who are concerned about separatism.
"Every nationality in every part of the world has its own rights. But
if they all declare independence, every multi-ethnic country including
Turkey would have big problems. Turkey is not a one-nation country,"
said Curgus.
His remarks were in response to questions about Kurdish claims for
broader autonomy inside Turkish territory.
"Did Turkey accept claims for territory? No, and it is right of
Turkey to do so as is the (denial of the independence of Kosovo)
a sovereign right of Serbia," he said.
Kosovo plans to open an embassy in Ankara soon. Diplomatic sources
told the Daily News that suitable sites were being sought.
"They can open whatever they want to open. It is not a question
that I want to comment on. It is a decision of the (Turkish)
government. Tomorrow they must explain their decision to the Tukish
people," said Curgus.
The ambassador said Serbia believed the dispute over Kosovo could be
settled by negotiation.
"The Balkan territory has had a very difficult history, involving many
battles. Because of past experience, we want to solve this (Kosovo)
problem not with guns but with law. We want to believe international
law still exists," noted Curgus.
The president of Serbia, Boris Tadic, asked the U.N. Security Council
to annul the declaration of independence by Kosovo. Belgrade currently
awaits the United Nations decision on Kosovo.
"We strongly believe that the U.N. system cannot approve of this. We
are sure the United Nations will consider the declaration of
independence illegal," said the ambassador.
He also expressed optimism about a real compromise with Albanians
in Kosovo.
"We insist on making a real deal with Albanians. You can never work
when there is a frozen conflict," said Curgus.
He cited another "frozen conflict," Nagorno-Karabakh, between regional
rivals in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Armenia. "You see that it is
very important to have a solution concerning Nagorno-Karabakh and
Turkey is involved as frozen conflicts are of no use to neighboring
countries," he said.