Kosovo - Security Council, 10250th meeting

The 10,250th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: Security Council resolution 1160 of 1998, 1199 of 1998, 1203 of 1998, 1239 of 1999, and 1244 of 1999. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives the representative of Serbia to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Marko Djuric, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite Mr. Peter Due, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Glauc Konjuh to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Stavros Labrinidis, head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2020/26/779, the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. I now give the floor to Mr. Peter Due.

Thank you, Madam President. You have before you the latest report of the Secretary-General on UNMIK. It is in the short update format, in line with the new guidelines for all such reports. The reporting period ended on 15 September, so I will also update the Council on developments thereafter. The past six months saw increased tensions in Kosovo and the region. On 7 June, the people of Kosovo went to the polls for the third time in 16 months. The elections were peaceful and inclusive, but political uncertainty and heightened rhetoric followed. In northern Kosovo and elsewhere, frictions increased around inter-municipal and property-related issues, including demolitions and evictions. These developments raised questions regarding property rights, due process, and potential socio-economic consequences for local communities and businesses. Concerns persisted regarding the stalled reintegration of Kosovo Serb judges and prosecutors, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, including the use of signs, symbols, and language associated with non-majority communities. There was also concern about law enforcement actions, including during the Vidovdan commemoration at Gazi Mestan on 28 June, and other allegations of ill treatment of Kosovo Serbs by Kosovo police officers. The Police Inspectorate of Kosovo opened investigations into these matters. Serbia-run healthcare and education institutions, as well as the Serbian Orthodox Church, continued to face challenges arising from closures, law enforcement actions, and decisions affecting access to religious and cultural heritage sites and the conduct of pilgrimages. Taken individually, some of these developments may appear administrative or localised. Taken together, they reinforce perceptions of insecurity and unequal treatment among Kosovo Serbs, eroding trust and affecting Kosovo's multi-ethnic character. Madam President, after the end of the reporting period, on 16 September, the first-instance judgement of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers found former President Hashim Taci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army leaders, Kadri Vezeli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi, guilty of war crimes but not of crimes against humanity. Demonstrations in Pristina and elsewhere followed. Most remained peaceful, although the protests on 16 September and 5 October resulted in minor injuries and material damage. Overall, the Kosovo police conducted themselves professionally in managing the demonstrations over 20 days while safeguarding the rights to freedom of assembly and expression. At the same time, coordination and information sharing with the United Nations was inadequate. The Kosovo police briefed other international organisations, but not the United Nations. an example of the limited cooperation that the authorities in Pristina extend to UNMIK. Operational coordination among international actors on the ground was also less than optimal. I have raised these concerns with the authorities in Pristina and with our international partners. On 6 October, the Assembly approved amendments to the law on the specialist chambers and specialist prosecutors' office, limiting their powers. I note the deep concern expressed by the EU about these amendments. I also note that the defendants retain the right to appeal. The integrity and independence of the judicial process must be respected. Any legislative action must be fully consistent with Kosovo's legal and international obligations. Another judgement concerning offences against the administration of justice is scheduled for 17 November. These developments in Kosovo have unfolded against the backdrop of heightened political tensions across the Western Balkans, where narratives surrounding past conflicts remain contested and deeply divisive despite the passage of time. Accountability remains essential to building trust. In this regard, I reiterate the call for full cooperation by the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks in Banska in 2023 and on the Ibar-Lipenac water canal in 2024. Madam President, the Assembly of Kosovo was constituted and the government formed on 13 September. Around midnight on 6 October, Zuzina Shiroka Pula was elected President of Kosovo, the third woman to serve in this role. I warmly welcome her election. Political disagreement is part of the fabric of democratic life, but prolonged institutional deadlock carries consequences. The formation of the institutions is therefore encouraging. The political deadlock seems to have been broken, and the priority should now be to translate this progress into effective governance for all communities. Madam President, as the Secretary General has stated, renewed progress in the European Union-facilitated dialogue to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina remains essential. Genuine commitment by both sides is needed to achieve tangible progress. I recognize the continuing efforts of the EU and welcome the separate high-level meetings it held with President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti here in New York in September. I encourage both sides to engage constructively, implement agreements already reached, including the establishment of the Association community of Serb-majority municipalities, and to take steps that help build trust and reduce tensions. The EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Mr. Peter Sorensen, has continued his concerted efforts, including on missing persons and the inclusion of the voices of women and youth. The United Nations fully supports his efforts and continues to cooperate closely with him. As of today, 1,577 persons remain unaccounted for. Recent excavations and identification of remains brought a measure of closure to the families concerned, while serving as a reminder of the enduring suffering of those still awaiting answers. I urge all parties to ensure that the approach to the issue of missing persons remains humanitarian, victim-centered, and free from politicization. I also encourage both sides to take steps to facilitate access to relevant archives, including through the designation of focal points. UNMIC remains committed to supporting these efforts, including through the Working Group on Missing Persons, chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross. And I also welcome the complementary role of the EU-Chaired Commission on Missing Persons. Madam President, UNMIC has continued to deliver its mandate under Security Council Resolution 1244 coordinating our efforts with the EU, KFOR, the OSCE, the UN Kosovo team, and other international partners. Through its programmatic activities and engagement with political, religious, and community leaders, alongside youth and women, UNMIG continues to foster dialogue and promote trust-building and inclusion across communities. We also continue to perform significant so-called residual functions related to Interpol, the certification of documents, and facilitation of Kosovo's participation in United Nations fora. I am grateful to this Council and Member States more broadly for their support to UNMIK, including our trust-building activities. I also wish to express my appreciation to the staff of UNMIK and the UN Kosovo team for their service despite the significant operational and financial constraints facing the Mission and the United Nations as a whole. We remain committed to making the most effective and efficient use of available resources. Madam President. Our shared responsibility is to work for reconciliation and normalisation so that all communities in Kosovo can participate fully and confidently in public life, with respect for the rule of law, human rights, and Kosovo's multi-ethnic character. The recent increase in tensions and the legacy of past conflicts in the Western Balkans underscore that this Council should maintain its focus on Kosovo and the region, despite challenges elsewhere. I hope that the recent formation of institutions in Kosovo will provide an opportunity for further advances through dialogue and engagement for the benefit of all the people of Kosovo. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank Mr. Duh for his briefing. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Marko Duric.

Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council, Mr. Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Duh. On September 16, in a courtroom in The Hague, four men who once held enormous political and military power were found guilty at first instance for war crimes. Their names are known to this Council: Hashim Taci, Kadri Veseli, Regip Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi. The judges found them responsible for war crimes, including arbitrary detention, torture, cruel treatment, and murder. The judgment concerns, among others, 96 people who were killed, 96 human lives, 96 stories cut short, and families who have carried the burden of those losses for more than a quarter of a century. But justice should have gone further. The charges of crimes against humanity did not result in convictions, while many have other crimes that remain unpunished, such as the murder of Serbian harvesters in Staro Gracko, all the way to the killings at Lake Radonjic, as well as the persecution and mass exodus of Serbs and other non-Albanians.

Justice cannot be considered complete while so many victims are still waiting for answers.

Wars and armed conflicts are never black and white.

They are complex, multi-layered tragedies in which suffering cannot be reduced to a single narrative of victims and perpetrators.

We must have the courage to face the whole truth.

Serbs and Albanians were victims. They were persecuted, abducted, killed, and driven from their homes in Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs, as Orthodox Christians, also saw their churches, monasteries, and sacred heritage attacked and destroyed. Their suffering cannot be erased from history simply because it does not fit a convenient political narrative. For the families of the victims, September the 16th was not simply another date in a legal proceeding. It was a moment where their suffering could no longer be ignored.

And what happened next, instead of calling for reflection, some of the most prominent political figures in Pristina and Tirana responded by attacking the judgment and celebrating the men who had been convicted. Albin Kurti called the convictions an unacceptable injustice.

Albania's president, Bajram Begaj, declared that nothing could stain the so-called KLA and repeated the slogan, "Freedom has a name."

But, Madam President, the victims have names too.

They were not a footnote to someone else's national narrative. They were not an inconvenience to be explained away. They were human beings, Serbs, Albanians and others, whose rights and lives mattered. Let me state this without ambiguity. The judgment establishes individual responsibility. It does not pronounce collective guilt upon the Albanian people. Albanian families too suffered crimes committed by various actors, including the so-called KLA. But there is an enormous difference between defending the right to a fair trial and telling an entire society that the court has no right to find its alleged heroes guilty. If we accept that logic, we are saying that justice applies only to the powerless. And then came another development. Within weeks of the convictions, the parliament in Pristina adopted amendments seeking to restrict the mandate of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The European Union said that the charges run contrary to Pristina's international obligations and called for the court's independence and the protection of witnesses to be respected. Consider the message this sends. First, a court speaks. Then, political leaders condemn its conclusions.

Then, politicians try to change the rules governing that same court.

How can a witness who has risked the safety of his family to testify have confidence in justice under those circumstances? The responsibility now rests with those who established and supported this institution. They should ensure that crimes committed against Serbs and other victims are not once again swept under the carpet, that witnesses are protected, and that political interference from Pristina does not obstruct the pursuit of justice. Serbia's position remains clear. Justice for the victims must never be sacrificed to political interests. We ask for justice for every victim, both Serbian and Albanian, not a Serbian version of justice, not an Albanian version of justice, justice that is the same for all. The verdicts triggered mass protests among supporters of the former KLA leadership. From Pristina to The Hague to New York and cities across Europe, Albanian flags were raised in defense of men convicted of grave war crimes. Yet, as Presiding Judge Charles Smith reminded the world, quoting historian Howard Zinn, "There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people." No national flag, including the Albanian flag, with all the respect, can place war crimes beyond accountability. Distinguished members of the Council. I began here because the question raised by the judgment is the very same question that runs through the Secretary-General's report before us today. When the law and the political convenience collide, which one prevails? I thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the SRF-G, Peter Deu, and the entire UNMIG team for their work. AMIC remains essential precisely because its staff can listen to people whose experiences are too often reduced to a few cautious lines in international reports. The report describes the situation in northern Kosovo and Metohija as calm but frail. I ask you to listen carefully to both words. A street may be calm because a family has decided it is safer to stay inside. A town may seem quiet because its young people have left. A community can disappear slowly without a single dramatic event that captures the world's attention. The absence of confrontation is not the same as the presence of security. Imagine the ordinary morning of a Serbian family in Kosovo and Metohija. A parent prepares a child for school. and elderly relative needs medication, someone has to collect a pension. None of this should require a diplomatic negotiation. Yet when schools and medical facilities are threatened, when institutions are closed, when salaries or social services are disrupted, ordinary life itself becomes a matter of political pressure. And these were not imaginary pressures. The report records closures and disruptions affecting institutions on which Serbs depend. It records unresolved problems involving the returns of Serbian judges, prosecutors, and judicial staff. The report records the demolition of Serb-owned homes and properties around Lake Kozivode, alongside serious allegations of police ill-treatment. Imagine that in the 21st century, the homes of an entire community are being demolished while their owners are still struggling to defend their rights before the law. For these Serbian families, the message is devastating, that their homes, their property, and their future can be taken away anytime. We gathered here in New York, in the United States of America, a nation that this year celebrates the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, a historic milestone not only for America, but for the development of freedom and human rights throughout the world. The protection of private property is deeply rooted in the American constitutional tradition. It is also a pillar of our broader civilization. And yet, in the very same year, in the heart of Europe, Serbian families in Kosovo and Metohija have watched their privately owned homes and properties being demolished, even as their legal claims remained unresolved. In the 21st century, we are witnessing scenes that should long belong to a distant past. What message does this send to those families? That the right to a home, the right to private property and the protection of the law somehow depends on whether you were Serbian. And think of a Serbian citizen who walks into a courtroom but no longer believes that the system understands his language, his rights, or his community. That is why reintegrating Serbian judges, prosecutors, and court personnel is not a technical detail. It is part of rebuilding the confidence without which justice cannot function. After the Vidovdan commemoration at Gazimestan, 37 people were arrested, including a minor. And let me remind you that Vidovdan is one of the most sacred days for Christian Orthodox Serbs, symbolizing centuries of faith, sacrifice, and the enduring spiritual bond of the Serbian people with Kosovo and Metohija. AMIC human rights personnel observed bruises and other injuries on several detainees who reported ill treatment during transport and detention. Taken separately, each of these developments can be assigned to a different institution, a different file, a different explanation. Taken together, they tell a story about a community being pushed into uncertainty over whether it has a future at all. For Serbs who were displaced, the message they hear is, do not come back. For those who stayed, the message is, learn to live without the institutions on which you depend. And for those who seek protection through agreements, the message is, even assigned commitment may be left unfulfilled for years. These are the messages that daily reality is sending. They are unacceptable in a Europe that speaks so often and rightly about human rights. Even the EU has documented excessive police force and misconduct in north of Kosovo and Metohija. For the Serbs, the north of Kosovo has become a police protectorate where intimidation and violence against civilians became a part of everyday life. Madam President, one figure in the report should stop us all. During the reporting period, 47 members of non-majority communities voluntarily returned. Not one was a Serb, not a single one. We can discuss migration statistics and return programs, but behind that figure is an unanswered human question. Why does a person who longs to return to the place of his childhood still believe it is safer to stay away? Returning home is not simply receiving the key to a repaired house. It means knowing that you will be able to keep your land, that your children can attend school, that you can see a doctor, that your church and your ancestors' graves will be respected, and that if something goes wrong, the law will protect you. That is also why threats to Serbian Orthodox religion and cultural heritage cannot be dismissed as minor incidents. A monastery is not just stone and the cemetery is not just land. Gracanica, Visoki Dečani and the Patriarchate of Peć carry centuries of faith, memory and belonging. They are living places of worship. They require security, not assurances given only after damage is done. Any adjustments to protective arrangements at Visoki Dečani And the main bridge over the Ibar must therefore be based on credible security assessment and meaningful consultation. KFOR's role remains indispensable. Decisions about people's security cannot be imposed without their trust. The families of missing persons are waiting for the same respect. There are still parents and children, both Serbian and Albanian, who cannot visit the grave because they do not know where their loved ones lie. Every credible lead must be investigated, including the eight locations identified through the Working Group on Missing Persons where the remains of Serbian and other non-majority victims may be found. No family's right to the truth should depend on the politics of the day. Distinguished members of the Council, 13 years have passed since the Community of Serb-majority municipalities was agreed in 2013. Its principles were further agreed in 2015, and the community has still not been established. Let me tell you what 13 years means to a family. 13 years is enough time for a child to grow from an infant into a teenager, enough time for young people to finish school and decide whether to build their lives in their hometown or somewhere else. Enough time for parents to grow tired of explaining to their children why the future is always being postponed. I will repeat that. An agreement reached with EU as an active actor intended to give the Serbian community essential institutional guarantees has remained unimplemented for 13 years. Imagine what message that sends to someone considering whether to stay in Kosovo and Metohija. If a promise that was negotiated, signed, and internationally witnessed can be ignored for 13 years, what can that person rely on tomorrow? The community is not a reward for Belgrade. It is not an optional concession to be offered whenever Pristina finds the political moment convenient. It is an obligation undertaken within the dialogue. Its implementation in accordance with the agreed framework is indispensable to restoring trust. And trust cannot be demanded of one side while the other is excused from its commitment. Serbia is not walking away from dialogue. We know that the future of the region cannot be built through confrontation. We want Serbs and Albanians to live safely alongside one another, to work, study and trade, and to settle differences by peaceful means. But dialogue cannot become a substitute for implementation. It must produce conditions that people can actually feel in everyday lives. That is why the Serbian state will continue to sustain healthcare, education, pensions, salaries and assistance for its people in Kosovo and Metohija. These are not instruments of confrontation. They are the services that help families remain in their homes. And this is also where our national policy must remain clear. The policy of preserving peace while standing firmly by the Serbian people pursued over the years under President Aleksandar Vucic, which I support, is rooted in a simple conviction. The protection of our people requires persistence, restraint, and the state that does not abandon them. There is nothing weak about restraint when the alternative is to expose ordinary families to danger. And there is nothing inconsistent about defending Serbia's legitimate interests while insisting that peace is our first responsibility. Distinguished members of the Council, this Sunday, October 25th, millions of Serbian citizens will go to the polls to exercise one of their most fundamental democratic rights. Yet for Serbs living in Kosovo and Metohija, even the simple act of casting a ballot has once again become an obstacle. Kurti has refused to allow voting of Serbs in their own communities, despite the fact that such voting was successfully facilitated by the OSCE in the past without prejudicating differences over status. Serbia has provided alternative polling arrangements in central Serbia. But why should elderly citizens, families and people with disabilities be forced to travel away from their homes simply to exercise their democratic rights? Democracy cannot be a privilege determined by geography or political convenience. Madam President, Resolution 1244 is still in force. It is not a footnote from another era. It is a binding decision of this Council and part of the UN framework for the international presence. If this Council expects its decisions to be respected elsewhere in the world, it should not treat its own resolution as optional when the subject is Serbia. International law must be more than language we invoke when it suits our political position. We support the full engagement of AMIC and we urge its reporting to remain sufficiently detailed to show not only individual incidents, but also their combined effect on the lives of people. Neutrality should never mean avoiding the question of responsibility. Let me end where I began, with the families who listened to the judgment in The Hague on September the 16th. A judgment cannot return a lost father to his children. It cannot give back the years spent waiting or erase the fear borne by those who testified. But it can say something important to the living, that no one is above the law and that no victim must be forgotten because the truth is politically uncomfortable. Today, this Council has to decide whether those principles will guide its response to life in Kosovo and Metohija as well. For Serbia, the answer is clear: we choose peace. But peace cannot require silence about injustice. We choose dialogue, but dialogue cannot mean waiting forever for agreements to be honored. We choose reconciliation, but reconciliation cannot be built by denying victims their dignity. And we will continue peacefully, firmly, and with determination to defend the rights and future of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, while extending the same demand for safety and dignity to every other community. The victims have waited long enough to be heard. The living should not have to wait another generation to feel protected. Serbs and Albanians deserve a future of respect, cooperation, and friendship. Let us stand up for that future. That is the responsibility before this Council and all of us. I thank you.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Duric, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, for his statement. I now give the floor to Mr. Glauco Nujska.

Thank you, Madam President, distinguished members of the Council. I acknowledge the Special Representative's report, which again offers a selective account of key political developments in Kosovo, while omitting other important ones. Kosova continues to remain one of the most stable democracies in Southeastern Europe, with one of the fastest improvements in democratic indicators. Independent assessments show that we have succeeded in fighting corruption, strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, protecting human rights and freedoms, and advancing democracy. Since our last meeting, Kosovo held legislative elections in June, which were free, fair and democratic, resulting in the consolidation of the Parliament of Kosovo, the confirmation of the Government and the election of the President. Kosovo has once again demonstrated that it has established a strong, democratic, resilient and stable political and legal system. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe delegation that monitored the election described them as conducted in a calm, orderly and professional manner, and commended the people of Kosova for their continued commitment to democracy under difficult circumstances. Now that our all institutions are consolidated, the Government of Kosova will continue its ambitious agenda of socio-economic prosperity, justice and security. Madam President, the Government of Kosovo's efforts to promote peace, security and prosperity throughout the territory, including in the north and minority-populated areas, are paying off, and we are starting to see positive results. We have closed illegal structures operated by Serbia, which aim to prevent ethnic integration and undermine our democratic institutions. The closure of illegal structures provides greater legal certainty, fair treatment and security for each ethnic community. No citizen has been or will be left without basic services or any other services. Kosovo's police, in close coordination and cooperation with KFOR and EULEX, continues to work and engage every day with the aim of maintaining law and order and providing security for each citizen. As a result of the improved security situation in the northern municipalities, KFOR has optimized its posture, which has created conditions for our authorities' deeper integration and direct cooperation with the Kosovo Serb community as equal citizens of our country. To promote social cohesion and full integration, we have opened cadastral, business registration, pension, employment, electricity, and tax administration offices in the northern municipalities. We have also invested in road and housing infrastructure and freed public and private properties that were illegally occupied. In other parts of Kosovo, our specially designated ministry for communities and return, has supported 45 NGO projects serving communities and financed 137 projects in education, culture, sports, healthcare, agriculture, and small businesses. In this regard, UNMICS report acknowledges only partially our efforts to promote the rule of law, stability, and freedom of movement. It is regrettable that many of these cases treated and discussed in the UNMIK report are largely based on Serbian propaganda. In addition, it is regrettable to see that yet again the Serbian paramilitary attack in Bainska, orchestrated, organised and backed by official Belgrade through Milan Radojicic is referred in this report as a violent event, instead of how it is, it is a terrorist attack. Of the 92 cases reported and misused for media and diplomatic propaganda by Serbia's so-called Office for Kosovo, none is found to have a clear or fact-based ethnic motive. Beyond the misuse of ethnic connotations and fabrications, the reported cases also contain disinformation and deliberately misinterpret rule of law enforcement actions or breaches of public order, wrongly describing them as ethnically motivated or as violations of rights. The minor offenses cases cited by UNMIC were not arrests or targeted prosecutions of Serbs. They were escorted by the Kosovo police and, in line with the legislation in force, removed from premises for abusing religious and ethnic commemorations events to sow ethnic hatred and division and undermine minority integration in Kosovo. The UNMIG report also disproportionately puts the spotlight on alleged incidents affecting religious sites in Kosovo. The report recognizes that Kosovo police opened investigations into all recorded incidents, but it fails to acknowledge that no evidence shows Albanians committed them, or any evidence of ethnic tensions underlying the alleged wrongdoings. So, it is illogical that UNMIC records them as official ethnic incidents. They exist only in Serbian reports and in claims by the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government. Therefore, we urge UNMIC to avoid mischaracterizing micro-incidents in Kosovo that falsely portray peace and ethnic relations as fragile. We call on the Secretary General to exercise due diligence and refrain from endorsing UNMICK's one-sided, distorted narrative, which largely draws on Serbian propaganda. An accurate, fact-based and balanced report is crucial to ensure the mission doesn't do more harm than good, given its already prolonged, outdated mandate and presence in Kosovo. Madam President, Kosova remains firmly committed to the European Union-facilitated dialogue as a sole framework for the comprehensive normalisation of relations with Serbia. We are prepared to move towards a comprehensive, legally binding agreement centred on mutual recognition, which is a crucial outcome required for lasting peace and regional stability in the Western Balkans. We continue to call on Serbia to end its hostile politics towards Kosovo and to ensure full accountability for September 2023 terrorist attack in Binska. It must end the systematic obstruction of Kosovo membership in international organization and endorse mutual recognition as the basis for normal interstate relations. It is deeply troubling and alarming that Ratko Mladic, a Serbian general convicted and orchestrating the worst genocide in Europe since the Second World War, was given a hero's funeral in Belgrade last month. Glorification of war criminals run counter to transitional justice and provide no guarantee of non-recurrence of crimes. Serbian Minister for State Administration and Local Self-Government Snezana Paunovic, in a live television show in Serbia, passionately stated, and I'm citing, "If I were Slobodan Milosevic, I would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998." We commend the EU's reaction, rightly noting that there should be no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, advocates and glorifies ethnic cleansing. We call on this Council to do the same, to unequivocally condemn the glorification of Radko Mladic and the continued ethnic cleansing of the current Serbian government. Serbia's renewed territorial ambitions against the Republic of Kosovo were laid bare once again early this month when its deputy prime minister, Ivica Dacic, declared at an election rally that the Serbian flag would sooner or later fly over Prizren, a city in south Kosovo. Such rhetorics reveal that Belgrade's territorial ambitions are far from a thing of the past. Just two days later, Milan Radevic, which is wanted by Interpol over the terrorist attack he organized, appeared in Vucic's party rally in Kragujevac, where Vucic once again threatened the independence of the Republic of Kosovo. These are not isolated provocations. They expose the continuity of a dangerous political doctrine, territorial expansionism in rhetoric and impunity for armed aggression in practice. Serbia cannot claim to pursue peace and European integration while its senior officials openly challenge the sovereignty of Republic of Kosovo and admitted organizer for the deadly Binska terrorist attack which still remains free, appearing publicly alongside the president's family instead of facing justice. The international community must unequivocally condemn these actions and demand accountability. The sovereignty of Republic of Kosovo is not negotiable, and neither is justice for the Banjska terrorist attack. While Serbia's destructive role within Kosovo has been reduced, Apart from the sabotage and spying operations across the borders, warmongering, development and discriminations against ethnic Albanians in the Pristina Valley should be a concern of this Council too. Although Albanians make up approximately 71% of the combined population in this region, according to Serbia's 2022 census, they are systematically discriminated against and excluded from public sector. Albanian political representatives are marginalized and institutional representation is very low. Such discriminatory practices not only affect education, livelihoods and civic rights, cut off economic opportunities and run counter to democratic principles, but also deepen ethnic distrust and can have wider destabilizing effects. Kosova guarantees 20 of its 120 parliamentary seats to non-majority communities, including 10 to Serbian minority. Why can't Serbia apply the same principle of guaranteed minority representations? Madam President, Serbia state under Serbian flag killed in my country 12,000 people. 10,000 unarmed, innocent Kosovo Albanians. No word by Minister Djuric for 12,000 killed Albanians. This is what I call denial of justice. He denied this because his state committed all of these atrocities. The recent judgment by the trial panel as part of the Specialist Chambers has provoked a strong negative reaction in Kosovo. As a victim people and state, Kosovo has cooperated with ICTY, NMIK and ULEx war crime courts, as well as its own courts, in investigating and prosecuting all war crimes, regardless of the ethnic background. We have approached the Specialist Chambers with the same spirit. Specialist Chambers were established in 2015 at the insistence of our Allies and in response to deceptive allegations by Serbia that elements of Kosovo Liberation Army committed serious crimes centred on organ trafficking, organ harvesting. Ten years later, the recent verdict of the Specialist Chambers has shown that the dehumanising allegations regarding organ trafficking were not even part of the indictment. We knew all along they were fabrications intended to discredit our defensive and liberation war and delegitimize NATO humanitarian intervention. The Special Chamber dismissed charges of crimes against humanity and widespread systematic attack against the civilian population, demonstrating that Kosovo's liberation war was to free our lands from Slobodan Milosevic's brutal military and police regime, and not against civilians. Finally, the Spanish Socialist Chambers clearly emphasized that the Kosovo Liberation Army was not on trial. and that their decision is no way intended to undermine the justice or legitimacy of the liberation war and subsequent independent statehood as the most viable path for peace and prosperity in the region. Notwithstanding the above, we have serious concerns regarding other findings and the harsh sentences. We believe they contain factual, historical, and legal errors and we expect the appeal process to rectify them. Justice must be impartial and it must be seen and perceived as impartial. Approximately 20,000 people were victims of sexual violence during the war in Kosovo, and many perpetrators of war crimes have gone unpunished. Kosova seeks justice for every victim, for every crime, and for every perpetrator. We cannot allow an equation of guilt simply because someone wants to create alternative narratives. The wounds of the war are still fresh in Kosova. This July, our forensic experts, in cooperation with EULEX, identified human remains belonging to at least 23 individuals of the group called Group of Intellectuals, located and exhumed at three mountainous locations. At a time when international justice is increasingly contested, the recent verdict of the Specialist Chambers has unfortunately not contributed to promoting transitional justice and reconciliation in Kosovo. On the contrary, it has fueled further doubts about the international politics of war crimes trials and about attempts to apportion guilt between aggressors and victims. When it comes to Serbian elections, the Republic of Kosovo has its own constitution and legal framework, which governs the organization of elections and the exercise of public authority within its territory. If Serbia wants to organize elections in Kosovo by violating our constitution and humiliating our own state, I am sorry, we will not allow this. Madam President, many of you might well ask the legitimate question, why is Kosovo still in the UN Security Council agenda? What are we achieving with these debates? The Council should dedicate its precious time to many other pressing issues in other conflict zones. Time and again, as the Government of Kosovo, we come here to speak the truth to the distorted efforts of Serbia to undermine our progress from war to democracy. In this regard, unmixed resources would be better used to facilitate Kosovo's greater access to UN system, its organs, agencies, and programs, rather than serving as a platform to disseminate all of these falsely claims, which try to undermine regional stability from Serbia. 18 years after Kosovo's independence and 16 years Since ICJ opinion confirming that our independence did not contradict international law, the time has come for this Council to move from confronting narrative to an affirmative agenda for facilitating Kosovo's admission to United Nations. I thank you very much for your attention.

I thank Mr. Konjukap for his statement. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Madame President, the Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Peter Juh. for his briefing, and we take note of the Secretary-General's report, contained in document S/2026/779. And we welcome here the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Serbia, His Excellency Mr. Marko Djuric. My delegation reaffirms its commitment to the Charter of the United Nations and to Resolution 1244, which remains the framework for United Nations engagement in Kosovo. Madam President, It is worth underscoring that overall, the legislative elections held in June 2026 took place peacefully, and the security situation remains generally stable. Nevertheless, persistent institutional deadlock and localised tensions, particularly in northern Kosovo, warrant close attention. The situation is a reminder that lasting stability requires not only a lack of violence, but also fully functioning institutions, inclusive governance, and public confidence. In that regard, disputes over municipal powers, demolitions and evictions, as well as access to health and education services, underscore the need to prioritize consultation, legal certainty, and respect for the rule of law. The protection of non-majority communities must remain at the heart of all stabilization efforts. It demands respecting their rights and their cultural and religious identities, as well as ensuring equitable access to essential services and institutions in accordance with the rule of law. Strengthening these safeguards is essential to building trust among communities and preventing further tensions. Madam President. This protection on the ground must be supported by political progress. My delegation encourages both capitals, Belgrade and Pristina, to resume constructive dialogue, to implement the European Union-facilitated agreements in good faith, in particular the 2023 Ohrid Agreement, and to refrain from any unilateral measures that could heighten tensions. The matter of missing persons also deserves sustained attention. Cooperation between the parties must continue to be guided by humanitarian considerations, the right of families to know the truth and the need to prevent this process from being used for political purposes. Madam President, In this context, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo remains fully relevant through its good offices, early warning functions and its efforts to promote inter-community dialogue. My delegation would like to stress that any changes to the mission must be gradual in nature, guided by the realities on the ground and accompanied by the resources necessary to allow it to fulfil its mandate. Budgetary constraints should not undermine the mission's ability to prevent tensions and foster trust among communities. To conclude, the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains convinced that lasting stability in Kosovo requires more than merely easing tensions. It calls for sustained dialogue, the fulfilment of commitments, effective protection for all communities, and international engagement that is tailored to the needs on the ground. Thank you.

Thank you, the representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam President. And thank you, Special Representative Peter Duhay, for your briefing today. I was pleased, Peter, that we were able to meet last week and admire your commitment to your work and to Kosovo. And also thanks to, of course, the representatives from Serbia and Kosovo. The United States remains firmly committed to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Western Balkans. Normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia is not only essential to that future, but it is the only durable path forward. President Trump admires and cares about both countries and wants peace, stability, and prosperity. To that end, we call on both sides to show restraint, take practical steps to build trust and maintain stability, and engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue. Lasting progress will come from Pristina and Belgrade, not from the Security Council. Our position on UNMICK has not changed. The mission has outlived its purpose, and the Security Council should close it. We must stop pretending Kosovo in 2026 is the Kosovo of 1999, when it was emerging from a fragile post-war environment. That was a different moment, a different Kosovo, and yet we continue with the same outdated mission. The facts on the ground are clear. UNMIK no longer plays any significant role in Kosovo's governance. NATO's Kosovo force The EU and OSCE and several UN agencies are also present and, frankly, better placed to carry out the limited work UNMICH still performs. What remains is an overstaffed peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers. Maintaining a peacekeeping operation after its work is done helps no one, and it hurts the most vulnerable. It ties up critical resources the United Nations urgently needs elsewhere. It also weakens this council's credibility. Our inability to review UNMICS forever mandate and put it to a vote is a serious warning sign. As we have said before, one of the clearest signs of dysfunction in the UN system is our inability to act when the moment calls for it, when success calls for it. We can keep UNMICH, or we can be good stewards of the United Nations. We can't be both. Responsible stewardship of the UN's resources and of the contributions member states provide means recognizing when a mission's time has passed. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.

Thank you, Madam President, and I thank SRSD Peter Duwe for his briefing, and welcome Ministers Duric and Konjuh to today's meeting, and I welcome, of course, also Ambassador Lamperinidis, our head of the EU delegation. Madam President, Denmark welcomes the formation of Kosovo's Assembly and Government, as well as, most recently, the election of a President. After a prolonged period of political uncertainty, these developments provide an opportunity to restore institutional continuity and move forward with necessary reforms. We hope this stability will persist, allowing Kosovo's institutions to function effectively and deliver for all communities. This should also create renewed space for substantive engagement in the EU-facilitated dialogue. Madam President, Denmark is firmly committed to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans, including Serbia and Kosovo. Advancing towards comprehensive normalization of their relations is integral to their respective European paths, as well as to lasting stability, peace, and prosperity across the region. The EU-facilitated dialogue provides the framework for achieving this. Its success depends on the willingness of both sides to engage seriously, honor commitments, and pursue solutions. The practical progress achieved earlier this year demonstrates what constructive engagement can deliver. The agreement on the implementation of the Law on Foreigners illustrates how pragmatic cooperation can address sensitive issues and provide solutions for people's daily lives. These steps should serve as a foundation for further progress. Denmark applauds the sustained engagement of EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen. The priority remains the full implementation of the 2023 agreement on the path to normalisation, alongside all previous commitments. Kosovo must move forward with establishing the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. Serbia must fulfil its commitment not to oppose Kosovo's membership in international organisations, Both sides have responsibilities. Implementation cannot depend on each party choosing only those obligations it finds convenient. Sustained progress requires good faith actions by both. Madam President, an inclusive approach within Kosovo is equally important to creating the conditions for normalisation. We encourage further efforts to support the participation of Kosovo Serbs in public institutions and to address the concerns of non-majority communities. Decisions affecting these communities, including on property matters, demolitions, and evictions, should be taken following meaningful conversations. Allegations of police misconduct must also be investigated impartially. Ensuring effective representation of non-majority communities in judicial institutions is particularly important to strengthening public confidence and the rule of law. Preserving calm is also essential. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid unilateral actions that could heighten tensions or undermine the dialogue. The 2023 Banska attack is a stark reminder of how quickly tensions can turn violent. We deeply regret Serbia's insufficient progress in ensuring accountability. We also call for restraint. and full respect for the judicial independence of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Any challenges to the judgement must be pursued through the established judicial appeals process. Any forward-looking initiatives to address the underlying legislation must reflect Kosovo's international obligations. Madam President. Denmark commend UNMICK's continued efforts to build trust and promote dialogue in close cooperation with KFOR, EULEX and other international partners. We particularly appreciate SRTDU's leadership and active engagement with communities across Kosovo. The mission's work to create opportunities for young people to engage across ethnic lines is an important investment in Kosovo's future. Denmark encourages Kosovo to engage with the SRSG and make the most of the mission's presence. The Council must also consider how the mission can best respond to the present needs. With UNMIK's mandate established in 1999, a strategic review could help ensure that it reflects the situation on the ground. Madam President, in closing, Denmark was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence. Over the years, we have supported efforts to build a peaceful, democratic, and multi-ethnic Kosovo. That commitment will continue beyond our Council membership, as will our support for Kosovo's full integration into the international community. We encourage Serbia and Kosovo to look ahead with a shared sense of responsibility and to turn their commitments into lasting progress for their people and for the region. Thank you.

Thank the representative of Denmark for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of China.

President, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Djuric, Prime Minister of Serbia, to today's meeting. I thank SRS G2 for the briefing. China's position on the Kosovo issue is consistent and clear. We support the relevant parties in reaching a mutual acceptable solution to the Kosovo issue through sincere dialogue in a framework of the Council Resolution 1244. In this process, Serbia's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity should be fully respected. Considering recent developments and the briefing just made, I will make four points. First, the situation in northern Kosovo remains fragile. There were frequent violent security incidents and arrests and detention of Serb community members, not in small numbers. Private structures were forcibly demolished and legitimate rights and interests violated. It is deeply worrisome. Last August, the NATO-led Kosovo force announced a gradual transition of its presence at Ibar River Bridge and integration of the Kosovo police personnel into relevant security arrangements. triggering panic of the Serb community and heightened tensions. Against this background, Serbia has largely maintained calm and restraint, averting the escalation of the situation. We urge the Kosovo authorities to prioritize regional peace and stability, cease unilateral actions that could aggravate tensions and antagonism, and effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of the Serb population. Second, a dialogue and negotiation is the only way to resolve regional hotspot issues. In this review cycle, EU remained engaged with Serbia and Kosovo. But regrettably, there was no head of a meeting between Serbia and Kosovo, and no substantive progress was made in the dialogue process. We commend the EU's mediation efforts. and look forward to the early resumption of the high-level dialogue among relevant parties to bridge differences and actively seek common ground in search of an early political settlement to the relevant issues. The 2013 Brussels Agreement clearly provides for the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. The Kosovo authorities should implement this commitment without delay. to remove obstacle in a dialogue and negotiation process. Third, in Kosovo, intercommunal unity and a mutual trust have always been relatively fragile. Inclusiveness and reconciliation serve the long-term and fundamental interests of all communities. The Kosovo authorities should pay due attention to the basic needs of and special of all communities in political, economic, cultural, and linguistic spheres. take positive measures to enhance the sense of security, participation, and fulfillment among people of all communities and advance national reconciliation. In view of the upcoming parliamentary election in Serbia, relevant parties must properly address the voting issues of the Kosovo Serb community and safeguard their due political rights. Fourth, over the years, UNMIK has played a critical role in maintaining stability and promoting national reconciliation in Kosovo. The UN and the Security Council should maintain its attention and commitment to the Kosovo issue and give UNMIK and SSG adequate support in performance of their duties. The Kosovar authorities should ensure the safety and security of UNMIK personnel and premises and facilitate a smooth delivery of its mandate. President Tubalka, So brutal was before, and his people yearn for. peace, serenity, and prosperity, we must never allow tragedies to happen again. The international community should work together to maintain security and stability in Kosovo, promote dialogue, engagement, and peaceful existence among the region's ethnic communities, and strive for an early political resolution of the relevant issues. China stands ready to work with the international community to continue its efforts and contributions to this end. Thank you, President.

The representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Liberia.

Thank you, Madam President. Liberia thanks the Special Representative for the briefing, UNMIG for its continued engagement, and the Secretary-General for the report. The relative calm described in the report offers an opportunity to advance political progress. The task now is to turn existing commitments into greater security, stronger trust, and practical improvements in people's lives. We welcome the peaceful elections of 7th June, congratulate the President and note the constitution of the assembly and confirmation of a government on 13th September. Constitutional challenges to those procedures must be resolved through established legal processes, allowing institutions to focus on the needs of the people they serve. The same focus must guide engagement between Belgrade and Pristina. We regret that no high-level meeting took place under the European Union-facilitated dialogue during the reporting period, when dialogue stands still, mistrust does not. Liberia therefore urges both parties to renew meaningful engagement and refrain from unilateral actions or rhetoric that could heighten tensions. The 2023 agreement on the path to normalization and its implementation annex provide a framework for moving forward. With European Union facilitation, the parties should identify achievable next steps and clear implementation milestones. People need to see that dialogue, actually delivers in their access to services, their confidence in justice, and their ability to participate safely in public life. Madam President, these concerns are particularly pressing in Northern Kosovo, where disputes involving property demolitions and evictions, language rights, and public services require careful attention. Decisions affecting communities must respect due process and include meaningful consultations. Institutions earn trust when every community can see itself protected by them. Strengthening that trust also requires practical efforts to support Kosovo serve participation in public institutions and resolve outstanding questions concerning judges and prosecutors. Accessible and impartial justice, accountability for alleged misconduct, and respect for freedom of expression, media independence, and religious freedom are essential to public confidence. Trust between communities also depends on addressing the conflict's unresolved legacy. On missing persons, authorities must strengthen cooperation share information, support identification efforts, and provide families with timely, reliable information. Families should not have to wait for political agreement to learn the fate of those they love. Progress should fulfill a humanitarian responsibility and help advance reconciliation. UNMIG's engagement with all communities remains valuable to these efforts. Liberia supports its continued contribution to stability and confidence building in close coordination with the European Union and other international partners. In conclusion, Madam President, Despite the reported recent increase in tension, the calm experienced must inspire the long-awaited peace people can trust. Political progress, trusted institution, and reconciliation require sustained leadership. Liberia urges Belgrade and Pristina to exercise restraint, deliver on their commitments, and place the welfare and security of their populations at the center of their decisions. We stand ready to support constructive efforts toward these objectives. And I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Liberia for the statement and now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Peter Du, for his comprehensive briefing. Somalia welcomes His Excellency Mr. Marko Duric, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, at today's meeting. Madam President, Somalia recognizes the important role that UNMIG continues to play in supporting peace, stability, and constructive dialogue in the region. We acknowledge the peaceful conduct of the elections and the active participation of all communities, which reflect the resilience of Kosovo's democratic processes. At the same time, we are concerned that the prolonged institutional stalemate risks eroding public confidence and hindering effective governance. We encourage all political actors to engage constructively complete the outstanding institutional processes and ensure the inclusive and effective functioning of the institutions. Madam President, Somalia reaffirms its support for the European Union's facilitated dialogue, which remains the principal framework for resolving outstanding issues between Belgrade and Pristina. We call on both sides to implement fully and in good faith their respective commitments including those under the 2023 agreement on the path to normalization and its implementation annex agreed in Orit. We further urge both sides to exercise restraint, avoid unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric, and foster conditions conducive to dialogue and tangible outcomes that benefit all communities. Those efforts remain important to building trust and advancing a peaceful, cohesive, and multi-ethnic society. To conclude, Mr. President, my delegation reaffirms its support for UNMIK and its mandate to promote peace, stability and trust among all communities. Any proposed reconfiguration of the mission's mandate should be considered carefully and must not weaken its good offices, early warnings, trust building and intercommunity dialogue activities. We encourage Belgrade and Pristina to remain committed to the European Union-facilitated dialogue and to pursue practical, mutually acceptable solutions through good faith engagement. Our delegation believes that lasting stability requires restraint, respect for the rights of all communities, and the consistent implementation of existing commitments. We remain committed to supporting diplomatic efforts that advance reconciliation, strengthen regional cooperation, and secure a peaceful and inclusive future for all. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Somalia for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. I thank Special Representative Peter Dewey for his briefing, and I welcome the participation in today's meeting of Foreign Minister Marko Juric and Foreign Minister Glaukon Jukta. The United Kingdom welcomes the recent formation of a government in Kosovo and the election of President Jastina Sheroka Pula. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Kosovo to advance its Euro-Atlantic future and to support its continued development as an inclusive, democratic and multi-ethnic state. As the first country to recognise Kosovo's independence, We call upon those Member States who have not yet done so to join the majority. Normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia remains essential to long-term stability and to both countries' European futures. We continue to call on both sides to implement existing agreements and engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue including by implementing the Ohrid Agreement in full and delivering on its Article 7 commitment to ensure an appropriate level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo. We note concerns highlighted in the Secretary-General's report regarding the impact of some of Kosovo's actions on non-majority communities, particularly in northern Kosovo. Kosovo's constitution provides comprehensive safeguards for their rights, which must be fully implemented in practice and in accordance with the rule of law. Serbia should provide access to relevant archives and records to support progress on missing persons. Over 1,500 people from all communities remain unaccounted for more than 25 years after the conflict. It has also been more than three years since the Banska attack and the murder of Kosovo police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. We continue to call on Serbia to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. This includes Milan Radojicic, who is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and continues to live freely in Serbia. Finally, Kosovo has been transformed since 1999. Many functions once performed by UNMIC are now carried out by Kosovo's own institutions and by other international organizations, including KFOR, EULEX, and the OSCE. This should be reflected in UNMIC's structure and resources. While we welcome the significant staffing reductions already made, we reiterate our call for a strategic review of UNMIC's role, responsibilities, and funding with a view to ensuring that UN resources are aligned with present-day realities. I would like to end by expressing the United Kingdom's gratitude to the Special Representative and to all mission staff who have contributed to UNMICS work. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Gracias.

Thank you, Mr. President. We are grateful for the briefing made by the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Mr. Peter Dew. We further thank him for his positive role. We also welcome here the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Marko Duric, and His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, the representative of the European Union delegation. Panama welcomes the peaceful holding of legislative elections in Kosovo on the 7th of June this year, as well as the broad participation of the various communities, reflecting Kosovo's diversity and commitment to democracy. We further welcome the formation of the new government in September, an important step forward that opens up new opportunities to continue strengthening democratic institutions and consolidating political stability in Kosovo. We further recognise that the overall security situation has remained stable. providing an important foundation for continued efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and understanding among the various communities. For Panama, efforts to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons are of particular importance. As a country that has also experienced this painful reality, we know that the passage of time does not heal wounds nor diminish the need of families to know the truth about the fate of their loved ones. We therefore reiterate the importance of preserving the humanitarian nature of these efforts. We welcome the progress made and we respectfully encourage the parties to continue strengthening their cooperation in this area, convinced that this also helps to build mutual trust and promote reconciliation. In addition, we emphasize the need to ensure accountability for acts of violence, including the events in Banska in 2023 and the incident at the Ibelipank Canal in 2024. In this context, we take note of the judicial progress relating to the Banska attack and stressed that all those responsible for these acts must be brought to justice. Panama reiterates its support for the work of UNMIK, particularly its efforts to promote dialogue and build trust among communities. We also reaffirm our support for the European Union-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and acknowledge the efforts of the European Union Special Representative, Peter Sorensen. We encourage both parties to continue making progress in good faith in implementing the commitments made, including the 2023 agreement on the path to normalisation. We likewise recognize the contribution of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX, to strengthening judicial institutions and the search for missing persons, as well as the role of the Kosovo Force in maintaining a safe and secure environment. Madam President, we are aware that the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is a complex process. with progress made and challenges still to be addressed, and that its future may depend on more than the prudence of the parties to avoid any incendiary rhetoric and events that might hamper understanding between them. and more on those than on the actions of this Council. However, these difficulties should not detract from the progress made, but rather reaffirm the need to persevere in genuine dialogue that will make it possible to overcome differences and to place the well-being of all communities at the heart of the reconciliation process. Only in this way will it be possible to consolidate lasting peace for the benefit of all communities and the region as a whole. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Panama for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Madam President. We are grateful to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Peter Du, for his briefing. We welcome the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Marko Djuric, in today's meeting. The situation in Kosovo remains permanently tense and is literally teetering on the brink. The self-proclaimed leadership of Kosovo is deliberately creating unbearable living conditions and driving Kosovo Serbs out of the province. Institutions providing public, medical, and educational services are being dismantled. The use of the Serbian Dinar has been banned. Electoral rights are being violated, and persecution of the Serbian Orthodox Church is on the rise. The so-called justice system of the Kosovo Albanians is fabricating criminal cases on a large scale and conducting intimidation campaigns. The number of cases involving the clearly disproportionate use of force is growing, ranging from aggressive detentions and searches and up to torture. Over the past five years, more than 800 ethnically motivated attacks have been recorded, and more than 250 Serbs and other non-Albanians have been arrested on trumped-up charges. Homes and land plots are being illegally expropriated. Serbs are being forcibly compelled to leave their homes. In circumvention of established procedures, Serbian real estate is being demolished, as was the case with the mass demolition of buildings in the Gazivode reservoir area in July of this year. The preservation of the region's Serbian cultural and religious heritage is a pressing issue. Desecrations of Orthodox monasteries, churches, and cemeteries continue. Under the pretext of combating extremism, Serbian Orthodox and national symbols are being banned. All of these actions by the ultra-nationalist Kosovar regime could be described as institutional terror, which is in fact aimed at cleansing the province of its Serbian population. It is particularly outrageous that the oppression on ethnic grounds is taking place with the acquiescence of international presences deployed in this part of Serbia. which are ignoring Belgrade's numerous appeals and through their inaction encouraging the ethnic redrawing of Kosovo. To date, the Kosovo Albanians responsible for the May 28, 2019 beating of and UNMICS staff member, Mr. Krasnochev, have not been brought to justice. On December 31, 2021, in violation of established norms of international law, Pristina declared UNMICS staff member Antonov persona non grata. We have taken note of the September guilty verdict handed down by the Specialist Chambers of Kosovo against war criminals who were former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. As is well known, Pristina harshly criticized this verdict and resorted to legal manipulations to alter the mandate of the specialist chambers. For some reason, the EU prefers to turn a blind eye to all of this. An official acknowledgment of the bloody nature of the Kosovo Albanian militants, in our view, requires an appropriate response from NATO states that unleashed armed aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999. The EU is also turning a blind eye to Pristina's refusal to form the Association or Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo. Brussels' inability and unwillingness to ensure that the Kosovo Albanians take constructive action have completely discredited both the negotiation process as well as EU mediation itself. The European Union is busy blackmailing Belgrade and attempting to force the Serbian leadership to recognize the state sovereignty of its own southern province. There is talk of implementing certain verbal agreements from 2023, while the legally binding Brussels agreements have been deliberately forgotten. Kosovo's militarization is being systematically accelerated. The quasi army, which Pristina is prohibited from maintaining under Security Council Resolution 1244, is being strengthened and supplied with weapons from abroad. Against such a tense backdrop, the West's positive assessments of the security situation in the province are perplexing. They are clearly detached from reality. Nevertheless, NATO's Kosovo force, for instance, has, based on these assessments, launched a process to, quote unquote, optimize its presence. including in the most vulnerable locations. Replacing KFOR troops with Pristina's security forces on the bridge over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica and at the Visoki Dečini Monastery is an extremely risky move. It could lead to a serious escalation of inter-ethnic tensions. The multinational contingent deployed pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1244 must continue to fully carry out the duties entrusted to it without involving Kosovo Albanian security forces, which are known to be unreliable. Failure to do so threatens to bring the most negative consequences for stability not only in Kosovo, but also in the Balkans as a whole. We also expect more active, determined, and visible work from the UN mission in Kosovo. the principal element of its mandate. It's not to monitor the situation, but to facilitate conditions for the peaceful coexistence of the peoples living in the province. It is important for the Security Council to receive honest, objective assessments of the situation from the mission. We consider neutral interpretations and attempts to reduce analysis to an administrative context to be counterproductive. We advocate for maintaining the current level of budgetary and staffing resources for UNMICK, as well as preserving the agreed frequency and format of Security Council meetings on Kosovo. Madam President, the events in Kosovo are a direct consequence of attempts to artificially consign the Council's foundational resolution 1244 to oblivion. This cornerstone document must be implemented in full. Moreover, a comprehensive analysis of the resolution is becoming increasingly necessary. The Security Council must send a clear signal that the international community will not tolerate violations of resolution 1244. Only on the basis of this resolution can a sustainable and mutually acceptable solution under international law be found to the whole range of issues around Kosovo, and only in this manner can the interests of the Serbian people be upheld. We are convinced that the U.N. Security Council can and must take such a decision. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation, and I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia.

Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank the Special Representative, Mr. Peter DeWey, for his briefing. I also welcome the presence of the ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, as well as the participation of the head of the delegation of the European Union in today's meeting. Following a prolonged period of political deadlock, Latvia welcomes the successful election of Kosovo's new President, Mrs. Jashmina Shiroka Pula, and wishes her every success in fulfilling her responsibilities. We hope this development will contribute to renewed institutional stability and enable Kosovo to advance key reforms and address outstanding challenges. Madam President, I would like to make the following three points. First, Latvia continues to support Kosovo's efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law, and advance inclusive governance. These efforts are essential for Kosovo's stability and European integration. At the same time, we share concerns about the recent amendments to the law of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. We stress the importance of fully respecting the mandate and judicial independence of the Specialist Chambers, upholding accountability, and ensuring justice for victims and their families across all communities. We encourage Kosovo to uphold its international commitments and maintain the momentum of reforms. Second. Latvia calls on Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo to refrain from unilateral actions and inflammatory rhetoric that risk escalating tensions and undermining trust between communities. We regret that three years after the violent attack in Banjska in 2023, justice has yet to be served. We call on Serbia to demonstrate constructive cooperation for full and impartial investigation. Those responsible must be held accountable. We further urge both parties to demonstrate political will, engage constructively, and seek meaningful compromise through the EU-facilitated dialogue. The full implementation of existing arrangements and tangible progress towards the normalization of relations remain essential to achieving lasting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. Third, Latvia commends the continued cooperation and coordination between UNMIK, NATO's Kosovo Force, KFOR, and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX, which contribute to security and stability on the ground. At the same time, we reiterate the importance of ensuring that international missions remain effective and fit for purpose. In this regard, Latvia continues to support a strategic review of UNMIK's mandate and its further role. Madam President, Latvia reaffirms its commitment to peace and security in Kosovo, including through our active contribution to the KFOR mission. We remain committed to supporting a safe, stable and prosperous Kosovo, where all communities can live in peace and to advancing lasting stability throughout the Western Balkans. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Netherlands for the statement, and I now give the floor to the representative

of Bahrain.

Madam President, at the outset, I wish to thank His Excellency Peter Du, Special Representative to the Secretary-General and head of UNMIG. We appreciate his efforts in fostering dialogue and confidence building. And I wish to welcome His Excellency Marko Duric, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, and His Excellency Mr. Konjufka in our meeting today. And we also welcome the Special Representative of the EU Delegation to the United Nations. Madam President, we firmly believe in the importance of peaceful coexistence and societal harmony, as well as the culture of tolerance and mutual respect. We reiterate the importance of upholding these noble principles between the community components in Kosovo to uphold the rights of all. including non-majority communities to ensure their effective participation in public life. We reiterate the importance of dialogue and confidence building as a tool that contributes to national reconciliation, security, stability, and durable peace in Kosovo for the benefit of the entire region. Madam President, The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates the importance of the EU-mediated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade as an important framework that brings views closer and settles disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. We welcome the EU-led efforts to foster confidence and mutual understanding between the parties. We call both parties to ensure the implementation of existing agreements and muster the political will to engage in a dialogue to foster security, stability, and durable peace in the Western Balkans. We encourage both parties to strengthen cooperation and coordination in the search for missing persons to uncover their fate. More than 1,579 people remain unaccounted for since the eruption of the bloody conflict in Kosovo in the '90s, according to the Secretary General report. A human-centered approach must be adopted to alleviate the suffering of the families and strengthen confidence between all communities. Such humanitarian work should not be politicized. In conclusion, we reiterate the importance of fostering good relations and cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia. We encourage them to reach mutual agreements to resolve contentious issues and preserve security and stability in the Western Balkans. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam. I thank SRSD Peter Duwe for his comprehensive briefing. I welcome Foreign Minister Marko Duric and Foreign Minister Glaukon Jufka to this meeting. We congratulate Kosovo on the peaceful holding of elections and the culmination of the electoral process with the swearing-in of President Shiroka Pula. My delegation underscores our sincere desire to see peace and stability prevail in the Balkans, and for the well-being and prosperity of all peoples in the region. To this end, we commend the EU and its leadership for engaging the two sides and in promoting dialogue-based solutions for the existing challenges. We firmly believe that a sustained and meaningful participation in the EU-facilitated dialogue, with earnest implementation of all agreements and understandings reached between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina, remains the only viable path for overcoming challenges and to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. Divisive rhetoric, hate speech, and intercommunal tensions have plagued this region. These trends must not be allowed to take root and ought to be effectively curbed. We unequivocally condemn all actions directed against any peoples on the basis of their faith, belief, or ethnicity, and hope that relevant authorities would take decisive action against such activities. We note with concern the statements related to diversion of shared overland hydro resources. Shared water resources between co-raparians should not be used for political point scoring or to further any narrow geopolitical aims. President, trust building between the two sides remains essential for moving forward. Bringing the perpetrators of Ibar Lipenc and Bainska attack to justice will go a long way in this regard. We also support UNMICK's efforts to promote harmony and foster the spirit of coexistence and tolerance among various communities in Kosovo. Pakistan enjoys friendly relations with Serbia and with Kosovo, and remains a resolute supporter of peaceful, stable, and prosperous Balkans. We encourage both sides to work together in the spirit of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, recognition of mutual sensitivities, and to safeguard social and economic rights of all peoples in the region. Pakistan will continue to support all efforts that ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Pakistan, and I now give the floor to the representative of France.

Madame President, I'd like to begin by thanking the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNBIC, Mr. Peter Du, for his briefing. I also welcome the presence among us of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Marko Djuric, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Mr. Glav Konjufca. I also welcome the participation of the representative of the EU, Mr. Lambrinidis, in this meeting. Beyond all the challenges, Serbia and Kosovo share a European future which will benefit their peoples. This demanding path requires the continuation of efforts to normalize their relations through the dialogue led by the European Union and its Special Representative, Mr. Peter Sorensen, with the support of both countries' partners. France calls on both countries to regain the momentum of dialogue initiated earlier this year with the agreement on the gradual implementation of the law on foreigners reached on March 14. Ultimately, the objective is to fully implement the Brussels-Ohrid agreements, which requires a determined commitment from each of the sides. Madame President, France welcomes the election of Ms. Jashmina Shirokapiula as President of the Republic of Kosovo. This election will contribute to the proper functioning of the country's institutions and should enable renewed progress and implementation of the necessary reforms. These institutions must also guarantee the active participation of Serbs, both at the local level and within the judiciary. France reiterates its support for international justice, which helps establish responsibility and deliver justice to victims of the most serious crimes, thereby contributing to reconciliation efforts. In this regard, the law adopted by the Kosovo Assembly, which amends the law relating to the specialist chambers, does not comply with Kosovo's international obligations. The Plan calls on Kosovo to fully respect its international obligations in order to guarantee the independence, impartiality, and judicial integrity of the specialist chambers. Furthermore, nearly three years on after the events, it is not acceptable that those responsible for the Banjska attack remain at large. The perpetrators of these attacks must be brought to justice and held accountable. Madam President, France supports the efforts of UNMIC in coordination with KFOR and the EULEX Kosovo mission. UNMIC's mandate is intrinsically linked to the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. We assure the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of our full support. Finally, we will continue to support all efforts aimed at improving and streamlining peacekeeping operations through efficiency measures while fully respecting their mandates. I thank you.

I thank the representative of France, and I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.

Madam President, I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Peter Juh. for his briefing. And I welcome the delegations joining us for this meeting. Colombia firmly believes that a lasting solution in Kosovo can only be achieved through direct political dialogue, mutual understanding, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. We encourage the legitimate authorities in Pristina and Belgrade to engage constructively building on commitments previously made. Colombia believes that international efforts must remain focused on supporting a negotiated political solution that ensures lasting peace, stability and prosperity for all communities. Colombia commends Kosovo for the peaceful holding of the recent elections in June, which reflects the strengthening of its democratic institutions. My country recognises the efforts of the legitimately constituted government to build its capacity to overcome institutional challenges, strengthen the rule of law, and make progress towards greater political and social stability, thereby improving security conditions in the Balkan region. These advances must be accompanied by renewed commitment to dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The full implementation in good faith of the 2023 agreement on the path to normalisation and its overrid implementation annex provides a concrete basis for overcoming existing differences. We therefore welcome the European Union's recent efforts to promote dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina with a view to convening a new high-level political meeting between the parties yielding concrete commitments. We note with concern the persistent tensions in northern Kosovo, particularly those related to evictions, demolitions, property rights and police operations. Colombia calls for all decisions by the authorities to be taken in full respect for the rule of law, due process and the equality of all communities before the law. Colombia values the contribution of UNMIC to stability in Kosovo supporting intercommunity dialogue and reconciliation initiatives. At the same time, my delegation believes that evolving political and institutional conditions provide an opportunity for this Council to review the Mission's current configuration, with a view to ensuring that its structure, resources and functions respond effectively to the needs on the ground and are a complement to, rather than duplicating, the efforts of other international actors. Colombia also recognizes the contribution of KFOR to maintaining security, and we take note of the announced gradual adjustments to its operational deployment. We, in turn, believe that it's important that any changes to the international presence be made in coordination with the local authorities, bearing in mind security conditions and avoiding gaps that could jeopardize stability in the region. My country reiterates that lasting stability in Kosovo cannot depend solely on international security mechanisms. Above all, it requires political will, sustained dialogue and concrete commitments by the parties. Colombia, therefore, hopes that the recent contacts facilitated by the European Union will lead to the prompt convening of a high-level political meeting. It's important to consolidate a political dialogue that will enable the parties to review their previous commitments and identify the obstacles that have hampered their fulfilment, as well as agreeing on concrete steps towards their effective implementation. Thank you.

Representative of Colombia. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Greece. I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Peter Due, for his briefing. We express our deep appreciation for the work of UNMIK and its continued engagement for peace, stability and security in the region. I also welcome the presence of ministers from Serbia and Kosovo in the Council, as well as the participation of the delegation of the European Union at today's meeting. Greece welcomes the political and institutional stability in Kosovo achieved with the recent presidential election. We hope that this development will bring the necessary impetus for Kosovo to advance on its European reform process and undertake concrete steps towards enhancing regional cooperation with a renewed commitment to addressing outstanding issues related to its European perspective through dialogue. In this context, both Serbia and Kosovo must redouble their efforts to advance the normalization of their bilateral relations. The EU-facilitated dialogue remains the only framework for resolving outstanding differences and establishing a sustainable foundation for peaceful coexistence. Both parties should engage constructively and in good faith with a view to achieving tangible progress towards the full implementation of their commitments under the Brussels-Ohrid agreements without preconditions or conditionalities. Greece reaffirms its full support for the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Peter Sorensen, and his efforts to advance the normalisation process. We also look forward to the convening of a high-level meeting of the EU-facilitated dialogue between the two parties soon, chaired by Kaja Kallas, as an important opportunity to reinvigorate political commitment towards the normalisation of relations Serbia and Kosovo. We remain concerned about the fragile situation in northern Kosovo, particularly unilateral measures affecting the Kosovo Serb community and their access to essential public services. Actions involving demolitions, as well as disruptions or closures affecting healthcare, education, and other vital services, risk undermining the rights of the population, deepening mistrust, and further complicating the normalization process. Such measures should be addressed through dialogue and consultation, in close coordination with the Kosovo Serb community and in full accordance with the relevant agreements reached within the EU-facilitated dialogue, including the 14 March Agreement. In this context, the establishment of the Association Community of the Serb-majority municipalities remains an essential outstanding commitment. Its establishment is necessary to advance the normalization process. We urge the parties to engage immediately towards its implementation and without further delay. We further express our deep concern regarding the amendments to the law governing the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, as well as the decision not to integrate Kosovo Serb judges and prosecutors into the judicial system. These developments risk undermining confidence in judicial institutions and the rule of law. It is essential to strengthen judicial institutions and ensure their effective and inclusive functioning, independence, and impartiality. Greece strongly condemns inflammatory rhetoric, the glorification of war criminals, and the denial of genocide, which are incompatible with the European values upon which our societies have been built. We urge all parties to refrain from such rhetoric, which only leads to division. Finally, we acknowledge the continued importance of UNMIK's mandate under Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, which provides the legal framework for a final political settlement between Serbia and Kosovo. The Mission continues to play a valuable role in promoting human rights, facilitating dialogue and strengthening trust between communities across ethnic and social divides, in close cooperation with EULEX and KFOR. We remain open to a discussion enhancing the effectiveness of the mission based on the needs and the realities on the ground. Greece remains firmly convinced that the European perspective of Serbia and Kosovo is the only credible and sustainable path towards stability, security, and prosperity for the Western Balkans. The vision of the 2003 Thessaloniki Declaration, reaffirmed by the Delphi Declaration of April this year, must continue to guide our collective efforts towards a shared European future, lasting peace and sustainable economic development. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council and I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Stavros Labrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.

The candidate countries, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this statement. And thank you to Special Representative Peter Duell for his briefing. Colleagues, the European Union remains fully and unequivocally committed the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans. The European Union recalls the key importance of the EU-facilitated dialogue on normalization between Belgrade and Pristina, led by High Representative Kaja Kallas and supported by EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen. Progress on normalization of their relations is among the essential conditions for the European path of both parties. This includes the full implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the path to normalization and all previous agreements reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue. The High Representative reiterated this in her meetings with the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo in the margins of UNGA. While the High Representative remains ready to convene a high-level meeting, facilitation cannot substitute for political will in Belgrade and Pristina. We expect from both parties to take the normalization of their relations forward, engage in good faith and create the conditions for such a meeting to take place. President, the EU remains concerned about the situation in the northern part of Kosovo and the developments that occurred over the summer, including the demolition of private properties and allegations of misbehavior by Kosovo police officers. Issues affecting the non-majority communities should be carefully coordinated and addressed in full compliance the dialogue agreements and the applicable framework under Kosovo law. The EU commends the 14 March agreement between the EU and Kosovo concerning the implementation of Kosovo's law on foreigners as a positive step. This allowed for essential health and education services to remain uninterrupted. It stresses the importance of its proper, continuous implementation. The EU reiterates that any process affecting Serbia-supported education and healthcare services should be inclusive and coordinated with representatives of the Kosovo Serb community, within the framework of the agreements reached in the EU-Facility dialogue. The EU deeply regrets the decree by the former acting President, following the decisions of the Kosovo Judicial and Kosovo Prosecutor Councils, to accept the resignations of Kosovo Serb judges and prosecutors that had already been withdrawn. This risks further entrenching the under-representation of Kosovo Serbs in the justice system. The EU calls on all relevant actors concerned to create the conditions for a multi-ethnic judiciary in full compliance with Kosovo law, due process, and the commitments made in the EU-facilitated dialogue. President, Kosovo and Serbia must pursue sustained de-escalation efforts. to expect all political leaders to act responsibly, refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, and contribute to an environment of trust and regional stability. There is no place in Europe for rhetoric justifying or advocating ethnic cleansing. Such statements run counter to the values of human dignity, reconciliation, accountability, and good neighborly relations on which the European Union itself was founded. Any glorification of war criminals Genocide denial and revisionism contradict the most fundamental European values and have no place in the EU. Statements made in this regard following the death and burial of the convicted war criminal Radko Mladic are unacceptable. Reconciliation and good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans remain central to building a shared future. The President deeply regrets that Serbia has still not taken the necessary steps to bring to justice those responsible for the attack in northern Kosovo in September 23. We also expect Serbia to fully cooperate through the established channel for mutual legal assistance. The issue is long pending and needs to be promptly followed up by Serbia. The EU reiterates the necessity for Kosovo to have fully functional institutions to focus on EU-related reforms and the EU-facilitated dialogue and advance on its European path.

The EU recalls the importance of close cooperation between Kosovo and the EULEX mission, as well as with other relevant international actors. The EU welcomes the good cooperation with UNMIK The EU reaffirms its long-standing support for the specialist chambers for Kosovo and their mandate as an institution created by decisions of the Assembly of Kosovo in 2014 and 2015 and operating within the framework of the Kosovo legal system. Their mandate must be fully respected. the law adopted by the Kosovo Assembly modifying and complementing the law on the specialist chambers does not meet Kosovo's international obligations. We call on Kosovo to fully and without any exception respect its international obligations in order to guarantee the independence, impartiality, and judicial integrity of the Specialist Chambers for Kosovo.

The EU continues to call on political leaders for restraint after the recent first instance judgement of the case in the Special Prosecutor versus Hashim Thaci, Kadri Vasseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. The convicted individuals have the right to appeal the judgement before a separate appeals panel composed of independent judges. Thank you, President.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Labrinidis for the statement. His Excellency Mr. Marko Duric, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor.

Esteemed Mr. Presiding, distinguished members of the Council, we spent most time today talking about the past, some time talking about the present and very little time talking about the future. This in itself should concern us all. We were accused by the representative of Kurti's government for a number of things which I do not want to leave unanswered. Firstly, the lack of objectivity. The representative of Pristina said, "I didn't mention Albanian victims." This, unfortunately, is not true. I did mention both Serbian and Albanian victims a number of times, clearly stating that we do not seek Serbian justice, we do not seek Albanian justice for the victims, but objective justice. While falsely claiming I was ignoring Albanian victims, representative of Pristina accused Serbia of fabricating war crimes against the Serbs. That is, ladies and gentlemen, An insult, no less than an insult to the victims, both Serb and Albanian, and undermining international justice in the middle of the UN Security Council chamber. We also heard something that cannot be described in any other way than a political obsession of the Kurti regime with Mr. Aleksandar Vucic and even his family members.

That is no less than a clear endorsement of one side in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia. It also clarifies very evidently the reason for denying Serbs in Kosovo their voting rights in the upcoming elections.

Kurti knows that an overwhelming majority of them support Mr. Vucic. That is the real reason why he doesn't want them to vote.

The representative of Pristina has also made reference to a number of Serbian officials and individuals. I believe that Mr. Ibrica Dacic, as someone who was born in Prizren, has every right to speak about displaying his national flag in the city in which he was born. What is much more concerning to me is that more than a quarter of a century later, none of more than 20,000 Serbs from Prizren have returned. And we all remember that in 2004, UNESCO World Heritage site of the Serbian church, the Holy Mother of Levice was burnt to the ground. I also want to remind everyone present that in the Binska incident, it was three local Serbs who also lost.

Their lives in ways that have not been properly investigated, as well as the.

Kosovo police officer, which is both deeply regrettable. Guilt in this case has, however, been attributed in advance to the Serbian side without any realistic chance of due process. There was not a single request, in contrast, for accountability for the shooting of a child, Stefan Stojanovic, in 2023, a Serbian child who was on Christmas Eve of 2023, shot by an active member of the Kosovo Security Forces, and still no accountability for this until this very day. Finally, nothing exposes the current administration in Pristina more than the brazen attack on the UN itself.

Pristina accused the UN of lack of due diligence.

When UN independent monitors registered 192 ethnically motivated incidents, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on the Serbian church, Pristina's answer is to condemn and demean victims by calling these abuses micro incidents and to shoot the UN messenger. Furthermore, Pristina openly admits today that Serbs were forcibly removed by police during religious and historical commemorations. Treating peaceful worshippers and mourners as criminals is the exact reason why UNMIK's mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and international security and political presence in Kosovo and Mitrovica remain indispensable. I thank you.

I thank His Excellency Mr. Duric for his statement. Mr. Glaukon Jovcic has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor.

Thank you. It is regrettable that Serbia repeatedly exploits even this platform to campaign for internal political purposes. They have elections on 25th of October, so next Sunday, and I fully understand Minister Djuric, why he uses this kind of discourse. But I will clarify some things for him. Kosovo is a secular, multi-ethnic, and multi-faith state. Religious harmony has long been one of the most notable traits of my people. Our founding fathers came from different religious denominations, including Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox. And how a country could be, let's say, religiously extremist when we elected just recently a new president which comes from Roman Catholic faith. However, Serbia is known for exploiting its national church for ethnic divisions and nationalist pursuits. They fabricate religious incidents to manufacture hostile ethnic relations. It did so during the '90s and continues to do so to this day. During the war, a significant number of civilians victims were Catholic Albanians killed by Serbian army, police, and paramilitary forces. Our biggest massacre in 1999 was Maya Massacre. We called it our Srebrenica because it's the biggest atrocities from all. 377 people killed, majority of them Catholic, Catholic population by faith. This is when it comes how much Serbia protects Christianity in the world. Thus, we must interpret Serbia's rhetoric and political tactics in this context, the continuation of hybrid warfare through instigating fake religious incidents. Unlike Serbia, which has a long established tradition of ethnic discrimination, the government of Kosovo conduct its work based on rule of law, clear procedures and within the principle of human rights, regardless of ethnic background. Our independent professional law enforcement agencies, courts, and professional bodies handle all cases of war crimes investigations, espionage, illegal occupation of property, and other organized crime activities. We do not prosecute or arrest without strong evidence and a proper investigation. Measures concerning public property and illegal structures from part of the legitimate responsibilities of public authorities to protect strategic water resources, safeguard public assets, and ensure their sustainable management. More broadly, the government measures should be assessed in the context of its wider institution efforts to ensure rule of law, public security, equal application of legal standards, and access to public services and rights of all communities without distinction. For example, 17 illegal holiday properties were demolished at Uymoni Lake. which is in the northern part of Kosovo, while five other illegal same buildings were demolished at Radonice Lake. By this, we implement rule of law because Kosovo is a democratic state and protects all of these areas from illegal constructions and buildings. No other country in Europe and perhaps in the world is monitored more than Kosovo by diplomatic and international missions. ULEX and OSCE, as well as EU and UN diplomatic representatives, have full access to these investigations and legal actions of our authorities. Time and again, Serbia has tried to portray our law enforcement activities as intimidation intended to drive Serbs out of Kosovo. Believe me, this is not true. It's a pure propaganda. Out of 92 cases reported and misused for media and diplomatic propaganda by Serbia's called office for Kosovo, none of them is found to have a clear or fact-based connection to ethnic motivation. And when it comes to them, Serbian judges and prosecutors. The institutional record of Serbian judges and prosecutors should be assessed against the applicable legal framework, institutional rationale and implementation. during the reporting period, the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo completed the necessary legal and institutional procedures to finalise the voluntary resignation of a group of Serbian judges and prosecutors submitted in 2022. Under Belgrade's political direction, these judges and prosecutors abandoned Kosovo legal system and joined Serbians run illegal structures. So they breached their loyalty to Kosovo's constitution and decided to serve another country. While the finalisation of their resignation has raised concern about its potential impact on the multi-ethnic composition of justice institutions, these concerns should be considered alongside subsequent recruitment processes conducted in 2022, 2024 and 2025, including positions or reserves for members of the Serbian community. In January 2024, a competition was opened for 28 state prosecutors, including four positions reserved for Serbian community, while in 2025, the process expressly encouraged candidates from non-majority communities to apply. This is truth. And when it comes to the future, an European future with which with which Minister Djuric is so obsessed, the first thing I will give him an advice to him is just to leave meetings with Mr. Radovic. Photographies of him together with Radovic, I don't know what these talks contain between them two, But it is a person wanted by Interpol. And when we see the minister of a candidate country pursuing EU integration meeting with such criminals wanted by Interpol, I don't know then what EU integration and what future does mean. Thank you.

I thank Mr. Konjuh for his statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.