Nebenzya to the Kosovo separatist at the UN: “What kind of flag do you have?”
During the debate during the UN Security Council videoconference following the hearing of the semi-annual report of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Pristina was called for concessions, and Belgrade listened attentively.
Balkan media reported this, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
During the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he personally and the international community expect institutional reform from the Kosovo authorities and the speedy removal of barriers to dialogue with Serbia.
“I am encouraged by the personal determination and efforts of EU High Representative Josep Borel to continue the EU-mediated dialogue, as well as by the series of measures taken by Belgrade and Pristina, with the support of the United States, to promote regional integration and cooperation,” Guterres said. “We are encouraged by the activities of the joint working group on missing persons in Belgrade and Pristina, which continues its activities with the participation and support of UNMIK and other institutions.”
Guterres noted that the Mission in Kosovo continues to work despite the coronavirus epidemic, although it is experiencing difficulties in implementing some activities and projects because of this.
In turn, US Representative to the Security Council Kelly Craft called on Kosovo and Serbia to return to dialogue.
“Even though XNUMX percent customs tariffs have been eliminated, Kosovo should immediately and unconditionally end reciprocity measures,” Craft said. “Our country encourages business development in Kosovo and Serbia, so honest and sincere dialogue should be resumed.”
Antoniu Guterres
The US representative also welcomed the appointment of Miroslav Lajcak as the EU representative on the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and expressed hope for coordination between the US and the EU in the negotiation process.
“UN resources need to be redirected to other places where they are needed because UNIMIK has completed its mission in Kosovo,” Kraft said.
“Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” of Kosovo Glauk Konjufca also agreed that UNIMIK completed the mission, but in his own way.
“The situation in Kosovo now differs from the one when UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was adopted (in June 1999, against the backdrop of NATO aggression, recognizing the sovereignty of Yugoslavia over the region - ed.), - noted the representative of the Albanian separatists. – Serbia at one time raised the issue of Kosovo’s independence before the International Court of Justice and the court upheld the legality of the decision (on independence – ed.)….
Kelly Craft
The dialogue with Serbia is not about the status of Kosovo. This is a dialogue to improve relations between the two countries, but Dacic (Serbian Foreign Minister - ed.) appeals to some UN member states, arguing that dialogue is a conversation about status. We ask Dacic and Serbia to immediately stop this campaign (on the revocation of Kosovo’s confessions - ed.). Serbia must remove all barriers and stop funding parallel structures in Kosovo.”
According to Konjufca, relations with Belgrade remain difficult, but Pristina believes that they can only be improved through constructive dialogue, which should lead to mutual recognition.
Glauk Konjufza
“If you are already asking us to stop campaigning for derecognition, wouldn’t it be logical that you stop lobbying for Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence? – Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic responded to these accusations. – When news broke of Jamaica's withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo's independence, Pristina representatives, including Hashim Thaci and Badjet Pazolli, thanked US Congressman Eliot Engel and Senator Robert Menendez for writing to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding an explanation for why the US had not imposed sanctions on Serbia and there was no pressure to stop their actions in the global recognition campaign.
Tell me, do such steps help create an atmosphere for continued dialogue? Only if lobbying for such things stops will it be possible to ask Serbia for something.”
Dacic noted that the current political atmosphere in Kosovo and Metohija has led to the fact that even Serbia’s assistance and solidarity in the context of the fight against COVID-19 has been politicized and used for harsh attacks and inappropriate accusations.
According to him, Belgrade faced even more extreme views and a complete reluctance to engage in dialogue, which was best seen in the program and decisions of the Albin Kurti government. At the same time, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija continue to face daily manifestations of intolerance and xenophobia from the Albanian majority.
“Unfortunately, I have to conclude that in these difficult times, Pristina politicians have once again confirmed by their behavior what is clear to everyone, but some of you do not want to admit - the project of an “independent state of Kosovo” is a big mistake of part of the international community, and that the state cannot be created by a unilateral decision,” added the head of the Serbian Foreign Ministry.
Ivica Dacic
Representatives of Russia and China, for their part, spoke in favor of continuing the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, but with a clear reservation - they respect the territorial integrity of Serbia. At the same time, the Russian representative Vasily Nebenzya did not miss the opportunity to “troll” the separatist speaker by pointing out to him that he does not have the right to speak at the UN Security Council videoconference under flags not recognized by this organization.
“What kind of flag is this? – said Nebenzya Konjufce, behind whose back the blue and yellow flag of the “Republic of Kosovo”, invented by Western political strategists, was hung. – Maybe Sweden or Ukraine?
Vasily Nebenzya
Interestingly, representatives of Western countries this time refrained from attacks on Serbia, but almost unanimously called on Pristina to cancel “measures of reciprocity”, both sides to “continue dialogue”, and also expressed hopes for some changes for the better, with inclusion in the trial of Miroslav Lajcak.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.