Serbia's attempt to stop Kenya recognition, MPJD reacts: violation of dialogue agreement

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo.

Once again, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Serbia have discovered their true face, again showing they have no interest in normalising relations with Kosovo. Their recent statement in response to the sovereign decision by the Republic of Kenya to recognise the Republic of Kosovo confirms that Serbia continues to refuse to fulfil its pledges under the Dialogue on normalising relations, facilitated by the EU. Instead, Serbia continues its campaign of lies, manipulations and propaganda against Kosovo, using every means available to prevent our country on the path towards full integration into international mechanisms.

This is not the first time Serbia has openly ignored its pledges to the European Union. Rejecting Kosovo's recognition and distorting international judicial principles, Serbia openly challenges its defined obligations with Article 5 of the Road to Normalisation Agreement reached within Brussels' dialogue. Serbia's refusal to implement these pledges further confirms the lack of goodwill and sincerity in the normalisation process.

In her statement, Serbia cites the UN Charter, the Movement of the Inquired and its relations with Kenya to present itself as a victim. However, the world knows very well. This is the same Serbia under the leadership of many of the same individuals who began four Balkan wars in the 1990s, which committed genocide and ethnic cleansing in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. This is the same Serbia that still borrows convicted war criminals who ordered the mass murder of civilians, women and children. Today, Serbia continues to deny and reject justice, as evidenced in its shameful opposition to the UN General Assembly Resolution for the genocide committed in Srebrenica. Serbia refuses to open its state archives, preventing the world from knowing the full truth about systemic atrocities committed by police, military and its paramilitary forces in Kosovo -- brutal massacres such as those in Recak, Izbica, Great Krusha, Poklek, Podujevo and Mej -- which we remember every year. Many of Serbia's political and military leaders have been tried and sentenced 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, and much less Kenya, the country that has recognised Kosovo fairly and legally.

Furthermore, Serbia's statement is filled with open lies and deliberate dezinforms. The statement that 28 states have drawn Kosovo's recognition in the past eight years is a unscrupulous lie. Serbia's efforts to undermine Kosovo's international position through fabricated diplomatic maneuvers have repeatedly failed. In addition, Serbia wants the world to ignore the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on the Declaration of Independence of Kosovo, a legal interpretation Serbia itself sought, in hopes of a decision in its favour. When the JND decided in accordance with international law and confirmed that Kosovo's independence does not violate it, Serbia chose to ignore the decision it itself had called for. This level of hypocrisy is beyond absurdity.

Serbia's MPJ also claims that recognition of Kosovo will undermine Brussels' dialogue. There can be nothing further from the truth. It is Serbia that constantly refuses to close the dialogue and normalise relations with Kosovo. Serbia refuses to sign agreements, openly denies its commitments to the EU and deceives the international community. Serbia has lied not only to the EU, but to its people for decades. No wonder he continues to try to lie to the world. Serbia cannot be trusted.

What is even more disturbing, Serbia's statement contains a direct and alarming threat against Kosovo. Claiming it will protect “with greater determination” its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Serbia is again signaling its readiness for aggression. Given its continuing hostile actions against Kosovo since the end of the 1999 war, 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-Lepenci channel, carried out by groups supported by Serbia, is a clear reminder of Serbia's readiness to use violence to destabilise Kosovo. We call on the international community to strongly condemn Serbia's aggressive rhetoric and its continuing violations of the Brussels Accords of obligations that, as President Macron, Chancellor Scholz and Prime Minister Melon, have declared, constitute a de facto recognition of Kosovo.

Finally, by reflecting our deepest gratitude to the Republic of Kenya for its just and legitimate decision to recognise Kosovo's independence, we call on all states that have not yet recognised Kosovo to follow Kenya's example. The recognition of Kosovo is the necessary act legally, politically and historically. The Republic of Kosovo is an independent and sovereign state, and its country in the international community is undeniable and irreversible.

The Kenya Times: Diplomatic dispute after Serbia reacts to Kenya's recognition of Kosovo