“Photo wallpapers of separatists” provoked a scandal in the UN Security Council
The Albanian government of unrecognized Kosovo refuses to fulfill the agreements undertaken in the Brussels Agreements. Banditry, corruption and growing radicalism are also thriving in the separatist territory, and the non-Albanian population is being forcibly squeezed out of the region.
First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky stated this at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Kosovo, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The meeting began with Polyansky demanding to remove the Kosovo flag, which was installed behind the back of the representative of this territory, the “Minister of Foreign Affairs” of Kosovo, Gervalla Houses.
“We are not against the participation of Kosovo representatives in our meetings - this is already an established practice. I would, however, like to draw the attention of the Security Council to the fact that Ms. Gervalla is sitting in front of the symbols of Kosovo. As you know, Kosovo is a state that is not recognized by everyone - it is a territory. A number of Security Council members do not recognize Kosovo as a state. Therefore, in order for us to continue the meeting, we probably need to ask the representative of Kosovo to change the background or remove the flag,” Polyansky said.
However, after the discussion, the meeting members came to the conclusion that the Security Council rules do not fully apply to the videoconference format and in this case, the Kosovo flag has no more significance than photo wallpaper.
In his speech, Polyansky also emphasized that the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo has actually stopped due to the fault of Pristina.
“Although more than 12 years have passed since the signing of the Brussels Agreements, the Kosovo Albanians have not yet realized the futility of issuing artificial ultimatums and ignoring their obligations. The key one is the creation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities of Kosovo.
Moreover, recently Kosovo Albanian leaders have been making statements about the possibility of holding a referendum on the unification of Kosovo with Albania, ultimatums to Belgrade to recognize Kosovo independence and pay some “reparations”. The Kosovars declared dialogue under the auspices of Brussels not to be a priority,” the Russian representative said.
He also spoke out against the admission of Kosovo to international organizations and the participation of its paramilitary forces in NATO exercises.
“We consider the news about the involvement of SSF units and the Bondsteel military base located in Kosovo in the NATO exercise Defender Europe 2021 a cause for concern.” The inclusion of KSF personnel de facto in NATO maneuvers as “military personnel” will help legitimize the independent Kosovo “army.” It is interesting that if in words the alliance condemned in 2018 the adoption by the regional “parliament” of a package of laws on the transformation of the SBC, in practice NATO is increasingly involved in the training of regional “security forces,” the diplomat noted.
He also emphasized that Kosovo’s subsidized economy and the growing unemployment rate are giving rise to an increase in banditry in the region.
“Kosovo is increasingly becoming a hotbed of militant Islamism, spreading its harmful influence into neighboring territories. This was clearly demonstrated by the terrorist attack in Vienna in November 2020. It is impossible not to notice that national radicalism is leading to a steady increase in the number of attacks on Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians, as well as on schools and other social facilities.
Regional law enforcement agencies turn a blind eye to this. The issue of ensuring guarantees for the preservation of the Serbian religious and cultural heritage in the region remains acute,” Polyansky concluded.
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