The chief diplomats of Kosovo and Serbia have exchanged accusations against each other's countries at the United Nations Security Council meeting, where late Tuesday the six-month report of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the UN mission in Kosovo was discussed.
Kosovo's acting Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla, said that Serbia "has not changed" and that it is continuing its efforts to destabilize Kosovo's democracy, "not only through rhetoric, but through concrete and violent actions that endanger peace and security in the region," REL writes.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric complained that the situation of Serbs in Kosovo is “deteriorating” and “Serbs are paying the price.”
Gërvalla said that "in September 2023 Kosovo was the target of an armed incursion by a paramilitary group supported by Serbia and led by Milan Radoićić."
"Banjska was a paramilitary act from one state to another, Iber-Lepenc was a military-level attack from one state on the critical infrastructure of another state," said Gervalla, according to A2.
A police officer was killed and three attackers wounded in September 2023 when the Kosovo Police were attacked by a group of armed Serbs in northern Kosovo. Milan Radoićić, former deputy leader of the Serbian List, the Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb party, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kosovo accuses Serbia of being behind the attack in Banjska and the explosion that damaged the water canal in the north in late 2024. Serbia has denied the accusations.
Gërvalla again demanded that Serbia extradite Radoicic, against whom Kosovo authorities have filed an indictment.
Meanwhile, Djuric said he is unable to "list all the unilateral actions by the Government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti."
"In recent months, Pristina has escalated its campaign to systematically dismantle Serbian institutions throughout 'Kosovo and Metohija'. These are not symbolic gestures, they have direct consequences for the people. Salaries, pensions and social assistance for thousands of Serbian families have been cut off. The means of survival for many of our compatriots have been put at risk," Djuric said.
Kosovo authorities have closed most of the institutions operating within the Serbian system over the past year, arguing that their work is illegal, but official Belgrade has continued to pay them salaries.
Members of the Serbian community in Kosovo receive various incomes from the Serbian budget, such as salaries, pensions, social assistance, child and parental allowances, and the like.
Djuric claimed that Serbs are fleeing Kosovo and that attacks against them have increased, without providing any evidence.
"Since Kurti came to power, 20 percent of Serbs have fled Kosovo. Attacks on Serbs have increased by 15 percent. Let's not forget that more than 200,000 Serbs have been displaced since 1999 and only 2 percent have returned," he said.
The chief diplomat also requested that Kosovo establish the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities, as a solution to the troubles of Serbs in Kosovo.
"When will the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities be established? Kurti's actions clearly show that there is no will for this," he said.
He added that "dialogue remains the only sustainable way forward, but it must be built on trust."
Reactions from foreign countries
United States Representative John Kelley said that Kosovo and Serbia should work to reduce tensions, refrain from measures that escalate the situation, and build peace and stability between them and in the broader region, as a foundation for a more prosperous future.
"The ultimate goal should be mutual recognition," Kelly said.
He added that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is essential for stability in the Western Balkans.
"America and the international community are safer when countries resolve conflicts peacefully and more prosperous when they create a climate for expanding international trade and investment," he stressed.
Russia's representative accused Kosovo of "continuing its policy towards the expulsion of Serbian residents" after Kosovo, among other things, banned the use of the Serbian dinar.
He added that the European Union is unable to influence Pristina, stressing that EU mediation has completely failed in the dialogue.
The European Union representative again called on Kosovo and Serbia to begin implementing the 2023 Agreement on the path towards normalization of relations.
"The EU welcomes the fact that Kosovo and Serbia reiterated their commitment to the EU-facilitated dialogue and to the process of normalization of relations and their pledge to engage constructively in the process to move forward quickly," he added.
He added that the foundation of the Association is expected from Kosovo, while recognition of Kosovo's documents and symbols is expected from Serbia.
Russia said it is particularly concerned about the defense agreement between Kosovo, Croatia and Albania.
The representative of the United Kingdom said that his country remains a committed friend of Kosovo and supports its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and the building of a multi-ethnic democracy.
Official London also welcomed the recognition of Kosovo by Kenya and encouraged states that have not yet taken this step to recognize its independence.
In his speech, the British representative praised efforts to include minorities in the police, but expressed regret that there have been no requests for reintegra- tion from Serbian judges or prosecutors.
He expressed expectations that Kosovo Serbs will actively participate in the upcoming local elections at the end of this year.
The United Kingdom called for constructive engagement by Kosovo and Serbia in the EU-facilitated dialogue and demanded that Serbia bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks on KFOR troops and in Banjska.
China also expressed concern about the closure of Serbian institutions by Kosovo authorities and tensions in the north. It called on Pristina to stop unilateral actions, including the ban on the dinar and the demands for documents and license plates, and to return to constructive dialogue.
In his speech before the UN Security Council, the representative of Slovenia said that, according to reports, the security situation in Kosovo remains calm, although several serious incidents have occurred.
He welcomed the holding of the recent parliamentary elections in Kosovo, describing them as peaceful, competitive and inclusive - a positive step towards strengthening democracy in the country. He also welcomed the recent talks between EU officials and political leaders of Kosovo and Serbia.
He said that the year 2025 should be a new beginning for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, calling on leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, build mutual trust, and implement existing agreements.
Slovenia called for the avoidance of unilateral actions and equal treatment for all communities, especially the Kosovo Serb community.
Slovenia strongly condemned the attack on the Iber-Lepenc canal in November and the one in Banjska in September 2023, demanding accountability for the perpetrators.
UNMIK's six-monthly report
During the presentation of the six-month report, covering the period from September 2024 to March 2025, UNMIK Administrator Caroline Ziadeh said that Kosovo held peaceful and inclusive elections on February 9 and that she looks forward to the timely formation of a new government, recognizing that this may require complex negotiations.
"Once formed, it is essential that concrete steps are taken to prioritize the well-being of Kosovo's citizens, as well as the implementation of commitments made within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue and advancement in the process of normalizing relations," said Ziadeh.
She added that in March she visited northern Kosovo, where civil society representatives, political leaders and others have highlighted the ongoing lack of trust, particularly towards institutions, while also sharing concerns for the future, given the current political context and developments in the region and beyond.
“However, they saw no alternative other than EU-facilitated dialogue and stressed the need for Kosovo Serbs to restore a sense of representation through a system of self-management within the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities,” she stressed.
She condemned the attack in Ibër-Lepenc and reiterated her call for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to identify and bring to justice those responsible.
"I call on all leaders to act responsibly, avoid escalation, and cooperate to bring the perpetrators to justice," she underlined.
Ziadeh also reiterated the importance of ensuring accountability for the “serious security incident” in Banjska, through fair and independent judicial procedures.
“This case, together with the attack in Ibër-Lepenc, highlights the need for effective engagement through mutual legal assistance mechanisms to support ongoing investigations and prosecutions,” she concluded.
Call for the end of UNMIK's mandate
Gërvalla and the United States representative to the UN again called for the end of the mandate of the United Nations mission in Kosovo, UNMIK.
Gërvalla called on UNMIK to address the reality on the ground without distorted ambiguities.
"Language matters, ladies and gentlemen. How we describe these acts will determine whether punishment or impunity will prevail, whether aggression will be encouraged or confronted."
She added that Kosovo remains committed to peace and cooperation.
"However, peace has never been maintained by tolerating aggression. It has always been maintained by confronting it directly," she added.
The US representative said that the US recognizes UNMIK's previous efforts in Kosovo to promote dialogue and legal reform, but added that the time has come to reduce UNMIK's presence.
He recommended that UNMIK begin transferring its functions to other UN agencies on the ground that are better suited to the job, so that the process towards the mission's final closure is deliberate and gradual, rather than abrupt.
UNMIK, he said, is a peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers, with 81% of its budget going to staff salaries.
"The United States is committed to eliminating unnecessary spending in international organizations," he said.
The UNMIK mission operates under United Nations Resolution 1244, which was a compromise between Western countries and Russia to end the conflict in Kosovo.
This mission is neutral on the status of Kosovo. UNMIK, after Kosovo's declaration of independence in February 2008, transferred all powers to local institutions.
Kosovo institutions have previously requested that the UNMIK mission be reformed and remain solely as a UN representative office in Kosovo./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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