2024-02-17 22:23:46
Serbia wants peace and dialogue, but will never recognize Kosovo’s independence, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today on the occasion of Kosovo’s anniversary, quoted by Serbian national TV RTS.
Today, Kosovo celebrates 16 years since the declaration of its independence from Serbia, which Belgrade does not recognize, BTA reports.
“Serbia wants peace and dialogue, but will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo, thus protecting the basic principles of international law,” said Dacic.
He emphasized that on February 17, 2008, the order of international law was violated and the policy of double standards was legalized in the interpretation of the principles for the protection of the territorial integrity of internationally recognized UN member states.
“This is an attempt to legalize centuries-old ethnic cleansing of the Serbian people, whose state was built in Kosovo and Metohija. A total of 109 of the 193 UN member states are aware of this and do not recognize this unilateral illegal action,” Dacic added.
He concluded that Kosovo would never receive full international recognition.
In 1999, 78 days of NATO bombing ended the war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo.
After the war, tensions between the Albanian majority and the Serbian minority remained, especially in the divided city of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo. In 2004, 19 people died in anti-Serbian riots, victims of both communities.
On February 17, 2008, Kosovo’s parliament declared independence, which was immediately recognized by the United States and most European countries. However, independence was rejected by Serbia, Russia and other countries, including five EU members.
In 2009, Kosovo became a member of the IMF and the World Bank. In 2010, the International Court of Justice ruled that Kosovo’s independence was in accordance with international law.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former region, but since 2011 it has participated in negotiations to normalize relations under the auspices of the EU.