Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998), 1239 (1999) and 1244 (1999)
Rights of reply
1 reply by 1 delegation
🇷🇸 Serbia
🇷🇸 SerbiaFirst reply
Esteemed Mr. Presiding, distinguished members of the Council, we spent most time today talking about the past, some time talking about the present. And very little time talking about the future. This in itself should concern us all. We were accused by the representative of Kurti's government for a number of things which I do not want to leave unanswered. Firstly, the lack of objectivity. The representative of Pristina said, I didn't mention Albanian victims. This unfortunately is not true. I did mention both Serbian and Albanian victims a number of times, clearly stating That we do not seek Serbian justice, we do not seek Albanian justice for the victims, but objective justice. While falsely claiming I was ignoring Albanian victims, representative of Pristina accused Serbia of fabricating war crimes against the Serbs. That is, ladies and gentlemen, an insult, no less than an insult to the victims, both Serb and Albanian, and undermining international justice in the middle of the UN Security Council chamber. We also heard something that cannot be described in any other way than a political obsession of the Kurti regime with Mr. Aleksandr Vucic and even his family members. That is no less than a clear endorsement of one side in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia. It also clarifies very evidently the reason for denying Serbs in Kosovo their voting rights in the upcoming elections. Kurti knows that an overwhelming majority of them support Mr. Vucic. That is the real reason why he doesn't want them to vote. The representative of Pristina has also made reference to a number of Serbian officials and individuals. I believe that Mr. Ivica Dacic, as someone who was born in prison, has every right to speak about displaying his national flag in the city in which he was born. What is much more concerning to me. Is that more than a quarter of a century later, none of more than 20,000 Serbs from prison have returned. And we all remember that in 2004, UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Serbian Church, the Holy Mother of Levis, was burned to the ground. I also want to remind everyone present that in the Bainska incident, it was three local Serbs who also lost their lives in ways that have not been properly investigated, as well as the Kosovo police officer, which is both deeply regrettable. Guilt in this case has, however, been attributed in advance to the Serbian side without any realistic chance of due process. There was not a single request, in contrast, for accountability for the shooting of a child, Stefan Stojanovich, in 2023. A Serbian child who was on Christmas Eve of 2023 shot by an active member of the Kosovo security forces, and still no accountability for this until this very day. Finally, nothing exposes the current administration in Pristina more than the brazen attack on the UN itself. Pristina accused the UN of lack of due diligence. When UN independent monitors registered 192 ethnically motivated incidents, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on the Serbian church, Pristina's answer is to condemn and demean victims by calling these abuses micro incidents and to shoot the UN messenger. Furthermore, Pristina openly admits today that Serbs were forcibly removed by police during religious and historical commemorations. Treating peaceful worshippers and mourners as criminals is the exact reason why unmixed mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and international security and political presence in Kosovo and Metokia remain indispensable. I thank you.
Verbatim from the transcript. A reply is identified from its own words, the Chair's grant, or its place in the right-of-reply sequence; delegations and addressees follow the transcript's attribution.
Speaking timeSerbia (18%) · Glauk Konjufca (13.6%) · Peter Duwe (7.4%) + 18 more · Unattributed (5.9%)
Security Council, 10250th meeting. Agenda item taken up: “Security Council resolutions 1160 (1998), 1199 (1998), 1203 (1998), 1239 (1999) and 1244 (1999)”. 16 speakers were heard, representing 15 delegations. The right of reply was exercised once.
Partly attributed: 45% of speech unattributed. Attributed to a named speaker 52% · unattributed 45% · Chair 3%.
Rights of reply · 1
🇷🇸 SerbiaFIRST REPLY
“Esteemed Mr. Presiding, distinguished members of the Council, we spent most time today talking about the past, some time talking about the present. And very little time talking about the future. This in itself should concern us all. We were accused by the representative of Kurti's government for a number of things whic…”
Points of disagreement
Liberia regretted that no high level meeting took place under the European Union facilitated dialogue during the reporting period, and urged Belgrade and Pristina to renew meaningful engagement and refrain from unilateral actions or rhetoric that could heighten tensions.
Key points
European Union recalled the key importance of the EU facilitated dialogue for normalization between Belgrade and Pristina, and said progress on normalization is among the essential conditions for the European path of both parties, including full implementation of the 2023 agreement.
Russian Federation stated that the situation in Kosovo remains permanently tense, and that the self-proclaimed Kosovo leadership was, in its words, deliberately creating unbearable living conditions and driving Kosovo Serbs out of the province, which it described as institutional terror aimed at cleansing the province of its Serbian population.
Greece welcomed the political and institutional stability in Kosovo achieved with the recent presidential election, and stated that Serbia and Kosovo must redouble their efforts to advance normalization, with the EU facilitated dialogue remaining the only framework for resolving outstanding differences.
Statement by statement · 16 speakers
European Union
European Union recalled the key importance of the EU facilitated dialogue for normalization between Belgrade and Pristina, and said progress on normalization is among the essential conditions for the European path of both parties, including full implementation of the 2023 agreement.
European Union expressed concern about the situation in the northern part of Kosovo and the developments over the summer, including demolition of private properties and allegations of misbehavior by Kosovo police officers.
European Union reaffirmed its longstanding support for the specialist chambers for Kosovo, and said the law adopted by the Kosovo Assembly modifying the law on the specialist chambers does not meet Kosovo's international obligations.
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirmed commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and to Resolution 1244, which it said remains the framework for United Nations engagement in Kosovo.
🇺🇸 United States
United States called for both sides to show restraint, take practical steps to build trust and maintain stability, and engage constructively in the EU facilitated dialogue, stating that lasting progress will come from Pristina and Belgrade, not from the Security Council.
🇩🇰 Denmark
Denmark welcomed the formation of Kosovo's assembly and government and the election of a president, saying these developments provide an opportunity to restore institutional continuity and create renewed space for engagement in the EU facilitated dialogue.
🇨🇳 China
China stated that China supports the relevant parties in reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the Kosovo issue through sincere dialogue within the framework of Council Resolution 1244, with Serbia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity fully respected.
China expressed concern that the situation in northern Kosovo remains fragile, citing violent security incidents, arrests and detentions, and forcible demolition of private structures, and urged the Kosovo authorities to cease unilateral actions that could aggravate tensions.
China called for the Kosovo authorities to implement without delay the commitment in the 2013 Brussels Agreement to establish the association of submajority municipalities, and for early resumption of high level dialogue.
🇱🇷 Liberia
Liberia welcomed the peaceful elections of 7th June and noted the Constitution of the Assembly and confirmation of a government on 13th September, adding that constitutional challenges to those procedures must be resolved through established legal processes.
Liberia regretted that no high level meeting took place under the European Union facilitated dialogue during the reporting period, and urged Belgrade and Pristina to renew meaningful engagement and refrain from unilateral actions or rhetoric that could heighten tensions.
🇸🇴 Somalia
Somalia reaffirmed its support for UNMIC and its mandate, stating that any proposed reconfiguration must be considered carefully and must not weaken its good offices, early warnings, trust building and intercommunity dialogue activities.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
United Kingdom welcomed the recent formation of a government in Kosovo and the election of President Justina Sheroka Pula, and called upon those member states that have not yet recognized Kosovo's independence to do so.
🇵🇦 Panama
Panama welcomed the peaceful holding of legislative elections in Kosovo on the 7th of June, the broad participation of the various communities, and the formation of the new government in September.
Panama stressed the importance of clarifying the fate and whereabouts of missing persons, and the need to ensure accountability for acts of violence, including the events in Banska in 2023 and the incident at the Iberlepenc Canal in 2024.
Panama reaffirmed support for UNMIC and for the European Union facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and encouraged both parties to keep making progress in good faith, including on the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalization.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation
Russian Federation stated that the situation in Kosovo remains permanently tense, and that the self-proclaimed Kosovo leadership was, in its words, deliberately creating unbearable living conditions and driving Kosovo Serbs out of the province, which it described as institutional terror aimed at cleansing the province of its Serbian population.
Russian Federation stated that replacing K4 troops with Pristina's security forces at the Ibar River bridge and the Visoki Dechny monastery was an extremely risky move, and that the multinational contingent under Security Council Resolution 1244 must keep carrying out its duties without involving Kosovo Albanian security forces.
🇱🇻 Latvia
Latvia welcomed the successful election of Kosovo's new president, Mrs. Justina Shirokapula, following a prolonged period of political deadlock, and hoped it would contribute to renewed institutional stability.
Latvia called for BOS, Serbia, and Kosovo to refrain from unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric, and urged both parties to engage constructively through the EU facilitated dialogue.
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Bahrain reiterated the importance of the EU mediated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade as a framework that settles disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, welcomed EU led efforts, and called on both parties to ensure implementation of existing agreements.
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Pakistan commended the EU and its leadership for engaging the two sides and promoting dialogue-based solutions, and said sustained participation in the EU facilitated dialogue with earnest implementation of all agreements was the only viable path to lasting peace and stability.
Pakistan unequivocally condemned all actions directed against any peoples on the basis of their faith, belief, or ethnicity, and said divisive rhetoric, hate speech and intercommunal tensions must be effectively curbed.
🇫🇷 France
France called for both countries to regain the momentum of dialogue initiated earlier this year with the agreement on the gradual implementation of the law on foreigners reached on March 14th, with the objective of fully implementing the Brussels Orid agreements.
France welcomed the election of Ms. Justina Shirokopula as President of the Republic of Kosovo.
🇨🇴 Colombia
Colombia stated that a lasting solution in Kosovo can only be achieved through direct political dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful settlement of disputes, and encouraged the authorities in Pristina and Belgrade to engage constructively.
Colombia commended Kosovo for the peaceful holding of the recent elections in June, and welcomed the European Union's recent efforts to promote dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina with a view to convening a new high level political meeting.
Colombia expressed concern about persistent tensions in northern Kosovo, particularly those related to evictions, demolitions, property rights and police operations, and called for all decisions to respect the rule of law and due process.
🇬🇷 Greece
Greece welcomed the political and institutional stability in Kosovo achieved with the recent presidential election, and stated that Serbia and Kosovo must redouble their efforts to advance normalization, with the EU facilitated dialogue remaining the only framework for resolving outstanding differences.
Greece expressed concern about the fragile situation in northern Kosovo, particularly unilateral measures affecting the Kosovo Serb Community, and about amendments to the law governing the Kosovo specialist chambers and the decision not to integrate Kosovo Serb judges and prosecutors into the judicial system.
Greece urged the parties to engage immediately towards implementing the establishment of the association community of the Serb majority municipalities without further delay, calling it an essential outstanding commitment.
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