FM Dacic: Kosovo’s independence led to divisions between countries

At the UN Security Council debate on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ six-monthly report on the work of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Dacic said that today “everyone is aware of the consequences of supporting the 2008 unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence,” and that this “opened a Pandora’s box.”

“Kosovo's independence has led to serious turbulence in international relations and divisions between countries. In previous years, 28 countries withdrew their recognition and Kosovo is now recognized by 84 of the 193 UN members. There is no way for Kosovo to become a member of the UN because you simply do not have a majority,” Dacic said.

The Serbian Minister told the session debating Guterres’ report for the period 16 September 2022 – 18 March 2023 that “a full implementation” of all agreements reached in the Brussels dialogue is necessary, primarily of those from 2013 and 2015 on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

He noted that the agreements reached by the leaders of the two sides in Brussels on February 27 and in Ohrid on March 18 are not about mutual recognition but about normalization of relation.

“We will invest maximum effort and we are ready to implement all the principles of these agreements, but the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) must be fulfilled immediately, otherwise there is no agreement,” said Dacic.

He stressed that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s “obvious goal” is the expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo and that he wants to erase the Serb identity, which is why “he will not fulfill what has been agreed.”

Dacic said that Guterres' report on the work of UNMIK “is not a basis" on which UN Security Council members can get the feel of the real situation in Kosovo, stressing that in Kosovo there is “an atmosphere of fear and pressure towards Serbs and other non-Albanians.”

Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister: UNMIK now a destabilizing factor

Kosovo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz told the Security Council session that UNMIK has become a destabilizing factor and accused Serbia of being on Russia’s side in the war in Ukraine and of failing to fulfill its European obligations.

“As Russia’s closest ally, Serbia is the biggest threat to peace in the Balkans,” said Gervalla-Schwarz adding that, if it were not for NATO and the US, there could have been a war.

She said it is common knowledge that Kosovo keeps its promises, and that it has not gone against any on the signed agreements.

“This is not the case with Dacic, (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic and the lot. Their political genetics prevent them from keeping their word,” said Gervalla-Schwarz.

Kosovo’s Minister stressed that Serbia’s strategy is to prevent integration processes in the Balkans and that Russia’s influence is behind this, but that the region’s EU integration processes will continue even without Serbia.

“There is a growing number of voices in Europe, from Kosovo, the Netherlands and Germany, calling for sanctions against Serbia, because there should be no negotiating with cheaters but they should be faced with consequences,” said Gervalla-Schwarz.

She added that Serbia has ignored the agreements of 2011, 2013 and 2015, and that it wants to obstruct all agreements because it does not wish to be a part of Europe, that it wants European millions but not European values.

“Serbia supports the war and genocide against Ukraine. Its vote in the UN means nothing,” said Gervalla-Schwarz, stressing that Kosovo will never again allow Serbia to commit genocide against its citizens.

She said the UNMIK report has small, medium and big errors and that there are important things missing from the report.