The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo has reacted after Serbia's statement on Kenya's recognition of Kosovo, describing it as a hostile act towards Belgrade, while also warning of taking diplomatic measures.
In a statement distributed to the media, the Kosovo Foreign Ministry emphasizes that Serbia has once again shown that it has no interest in normalizing relations with Kosovo.
"Their latest statement in response to the sovereign decision of the Republic of Kenya to recognize the Republic of Kosovo confirms that Serbia continues to refuse to fulfill its commitments within the framework of the Dialogue for the Normalization of Relations, facilitated by the EU. On the contrary, Serbia continues its campaign of lies, manipulation and propaganda against Kosovo, using every means at its disposal to hinder our country on the path towards full integration into international mechanisms."
According to the Foreign Ministry, Serbia is openly ignoring its commitments to the European Union, refusing to recognize Kosovo and distorting international legal principles.
“This is not the first time that Serbia has openly ignored its commitments to the European Union. By refusing to recognize Kosovo and distorting international legal principles, Serbia openly challenges its obligations set out in Articles 1–5 of the Agreement on the Road to Normalization, reached within the framework of the Brussels dialogue. Serbia’s refusal to implement these commitments further confirms the lack of goodwill and sincerity in the normalization process.”
Kosovo further reminds Serbia of the wars in the Balkans and the genocide and says that it has no moral authority to dictate international law to countries.
“This is the same Serbia, led by many of the same individuals who started four wars in the Balkans in the 1990s, committed genocide and ethnic cleansing in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. This is the same Serbia that still glorifies convicted war criminals who ordered the mass murder of civilians, women and children. Today, Serbia continues to deny and defy justice, as evidenced by its shameful opposition to the UN General Assembly Resolution on the genocide committed in Srebrenica. Serbia refuses to open its state archives, preventing the world from knowing the full truth about the systematic atrocities committed by its police, army and paramilitary forces in Kosovo, brutal massacres such as those in Recak, Izbica, Kruše e Madhe, Poklek, Podujevo and Mejë, which we remember every year. Many of Serbia’s political and military leaders have been tried and convicted by the Hague Tribunal for their role in the systematic killings and mass expulsions of Kosovo Albanians. This Serbia has no moral authority to lecture any country on international law, much less Kenya, the country that has rightfully and legally recognized Kosovo.
According to the Kosovo Foreign Ministry, Serbia's statement is filled with blatant lies and deliberate disinformation.
"The claim that 28 states have withdrawn recognition of Kosovo in the last eight years is a blatant lie. Serbia's attempts to undermine Kosovo's international position through contrived diplomatic maneuvers have repeatedly failed."
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo.
Once again, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Serbia have revealed their true colors, once again showing that they have no interest in normalizing relations with Kosovo. Their latest statement in response to the sovereign decision of the Republic of Kenya to recognize the Republic of Kosovo confirms that Serbia continues to refuse to fulfill its commitments within the framework of the EU-facilitated Dialogue for the Normalization of Relations. On the contrary, Serbia continues its campaign of lies, manipulation and propaganda against Kosovo, using every means at its disposal to hinder our country on the path to full integration into international mechanisms.
This is not the first time that Serbia has openly disregarded its commitments to the European Union. By refusing to recognize Kosovo and distorting international legal principles, Serbia openly defies its obligations set out in Articles 1–5 of the Agreement on the Road to Normalization, reached within the framework of the Brussels dialogue. Serbia’s refusal to implement these commitments further confirms the lack of goodwill and sincerity in the normalization process.
In its statement, Serbia cites the UN Charter, the Non-Aligned Movement and its relations with Kenya to portray itself as a victim. However, the world knows it all too well. This is the same Serbia, led by many of the same individuals that started four wars in the Balkans in the 1990s, that committed genocide and ethnic cleansing in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. This is the same Serbia that still glorifies convicted war criminals who ordered the mass murder of civilians, women and children. Today, Serbia continues to deny and oppose justice, as evidenced by its shameful opposition to the UN General Assembly Resolution on the genocide committed in Srebrenica. Serbia refuses to open its state archives, preventing the world from knowing the full truth about the systematic atrocities committed by its police, army and paramilitary forces in Kosovo, brutal massacres like those in Recak, Izbica, Kruše e Madhe, Poklek, Podujevo and Mejë, which we remember every year. Many of Serbia's political and military leaders have been tried and convicted by the Hague Tribunal for their role in the systematic killings and mass expulsions of Kosovo Albanians. This Serbia has no moral authority to lecture any country on international law, much less Kenya, the country that has rightfully and legally recognized Kosovo.
Moreover, Serbia’s statement is full of outright lies and deliberate disinformation. The claim that 28 states have withdrawn recognition of Kosovo in the past eight years is a blatant lie. Serbia’s attempts to undermine Kosovo’s international standing through contrived diplomatic maneuvers have repeatedly failed. In addition, Serbia wants the world to ignore the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence, a legal interpretation that Serbia itself requested, in the hope of a ruling in its favor. When the ICJ ruled in accordance with international law and confirmed that Kosovo’s independence does not violate it, Serbia chose to ignore the ruling it itself had requested. This level of hypocrisy is beyond absurd.
The Serbian MFA also claims that recognizing Kosovo will undermine the Brussels dialogue. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is Serbia that consistently refuses to conclude the dialogue and normalize relations with Kosovo. Serbia refuses to sign agreements, openly denies its commitments to the EU, and deceives the international community. Serbia has been lying not only to the EU, but also to its own people for decades. It is no wonder, then, that it continues to try to lie to the world. Serbia cannot be trusted.
Even more worryingly, Serbia’s statement contains a direct and alarming threat against Kosovo. By declaring that it will defend “with greater determination” its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Serbia is once again signaling its readiness for aggression. Given its ongoing hostile actions against Kosovo since the end of the war in 1999, including military, political, diplomatic and economic attacks, the international community must take these threats seriously. The latest act of aggression against the Republic of Kosovo in Banjska and the attack on critical infrastructure in the Iber-Lepenc canal, carried out by Serbian-backed groups, is a clear reminder of Serbia’s readiness to use violence to destabilize Kosovo. We call on the international community to strongly condemn Serbia’s aggressive rhetoric and its continued violations of the Brussels Agreement obligations, which, as President Macron, Chancellor Scholz and Prime Minister Meloni have stated, constitute a de facto recognition of Kosovo.
Finally, while reiterating our deepest gratitude to the Republic of Kenya for its just and lawful decision to recognize the independence of Kosovo, we call on all states that have not yet recognized Kosovo to follow Kenya's example. Recognizing Kosovo is the right action legally, politically, and historically. The Republic of Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state, and its place in the international community is undeniable and irrevocable. (A2 Televizion)
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