Vucevic: Truth is on our side, we will not give up on that

TRIESTE - Serbian PM Milos Vucevic said on Friday in Trieste the truth was on Serbia's side and that, while the UN General Assembly resolution on Srebrenica might be technically legal, it was essentially illegitimate as the majority of UNGA member states had not voted for it.

"Only one thing, one fact, is on our side - the truth. It is the truth and we must not give up on that," Vucevic told Tanjug in a statement.

He said that, besides economic affairs, his discussions with Italian FM Antonio Tajani had addressed political issues such as the Srebrenica resolution - co-sponsored by Italy - and Kosovo-Metohija.

He said bilateral cooperation with Italy was good but that there were some outstanding issues.

"Today, there is a collective feeling of disappointment in Serbia in those who sponsored that disgraceful resolution and voted for it. That is not just our impression, but the impression of the international community as well - that the resolution might be technically legal but is essentially illegitimate as the majority of states were on the side that did not vote for the resolution," he said.

Vucevic said Serbia now had a moral obligation to seek a declaration on the genocide against the Serbs in WWI and WWII, as well as in the 1990s.

"It is now our historical, political and moral obligation to decide about that. So, what they have done makes no sense. I think that, essentially, they have suffered a political defeat, however much they may be trying to convince us. Of course this is not about individual guilt as individual guilt can exist only in court rulings. And that already exists. But if this is not about collective guilt, then what is the resolution for? No one can just explain what the resolution is for. What is its purpose and what is it supposed to lead us to?" Vucevic said, adding that the resolution had worsened the relationships within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The UNGA adopted the resolution on Thursday with 84 votes for, 19 votes against and 68 abstentions.

The number of abstentions and votes against outnumbered the votes in favour as only 43 per cent of UNGA member states voted for the resolution, while as many as 57 per cent voted against or abstained.