Djuric: International law violated today, Lavrov: Support for Serbia on the issue of Kosovo

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric emphasized today in Moscow that international law was violated 17 years ago in the case of Serbia, when, as he stated, there was an illegal unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Russia will continue to support Serbia on the issue of Kosovo.

At a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Djuric once again thanked Russia for its support on the issue of Kosovo and for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.

"Today marks 17 years since international law was violated in Serbia, in Kosovo and Metohija. There was an illegal unilateral declaration of so-called Kosovo, contrary to international law, UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and against the will of the majority of Serbian citizens, who were never consulted in a referendum. Even in Kosovo and Metohija, there has been no plebiscite to this day," Djuric pointed out.

He emphasized that the erosion of human rights and democratic standards in Kosovo over the years has been evident, which some have used to justify this unlawful act.

"We are grateful to Russia for its firm and principled stance on Kosovo and Metohija and hope that with tectonic changes in the international community, there will be more space to resolve this issue in accordance with international law and in a civilized manner," stressed the head of Serbian diplomacy.

Djuric also stated that Serbia advocates for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts, reminding that President Aleksandar Vučić has publicly offered and expressed Serbia's readiness to host all talks related to overcoming the crisis in Ukraine, which we would like to see.

"We hope that we will soon be in a situation to see peace on the European continent," Djuric indicated.

He mentioned that Serbia is on its path to the European Union, but it will not forget or neglect its traditional friendships and will continue to develop constructive relations with Russia and other friends in the international community.

Regarding cooperation between the two countries in the field of energy, Djuric said that it is significant for Serbia to count on the support of Russian friends for reliable supplies of natural gas and other energy resources.

"We want Serbian citizens not to be collateral damage of sanctions. We do not support sanctions as a mechanism, as we experienced them in the 1990s. In today's era, we do not want to allow such a thing to repeat. It is most important for us that Serbian citizens do not suffer as a consequence of sanctions against NIS. We have discussed this now and will continue to do so, and President Vučić will have the opportunity to discuss this with Vladimir Putin," said Djuric.

Reminding that Serbia is a European country that has not imposed sanctions on Russia, he reiterated President Vučić's stance that we will not do so.

"We will act on principle, in accordance with the historic character of our relations," emphasized Minister Djuric.

He expressed confidence that today's talks, at the beginning of the year, will provide additional impetus for cooperation, adding that he also hopes for an increase in economic and business cooperation.

He invited citizens of Russia to visit Serbia, noting that they can do so without visas, reminding that there are direct flights between Belgrade and Moscow, as well as other cities like Saint Petersburg, Kazan, and Sochi.

He highlighted that Serbia, which two days ago commemorated the anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, does not forget the fact that the Russian Tsar then supported the efforts of Slavic, Christian peoples in the Balkans, including Serbia, towards independence, and that valuable assistance then came from the Tsarist Russia.

Serbia, he added, also does not forget that in 1878 at the Congress of Berlin, one of the guarantors of the young Serbian state's independence was Russian support, as well as in 1914 and 1915 when Tsar Nicholas provided support to Serbia.

"We also remember World War II and the great victory that we will jointly commemorate with President Vučić's visit and the parade at Red Square, where we will appropriately honor Soviet, Russian, and Serbian soldiers, who made a key contribution to Europe being free," Djuric stated.

He expressed hope that the traditional friendly relations between Serbia and Russia will, as international circumstances evolve, reach their full capacity and that together, they will work intensively to achieve all goals.

"This will be a good year for Russian-Serbian cooperation," concluded Minister Djuric.

Lavrov: Russia continues support for Serbia on Kosovo Issue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that Russia will continue to support Serbia regarding Kosovo.

Lavrov mentioned that it has been agreed that Russia and Serbia will act in the international arena based on the principles of the UN Charter, advocating for a fairer order based on the practice of state sovereignty and respect for international law.

"We have reviewed aspects of our joint work in the UN and other multilateral organizations. I have confirmed Russia’s readiness to support Serbia’s legitimate international legal interests concerning Kosovo, making it a priority topic in the UN Security Council," Lavrov explained.

He pointed out that the common stance is that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 remains relevant and must be respected.

He conveyed that, in discussions with Minister Djuric, they reviewed the situation in Southeast Europe, adding that Russia supports the efforts of Serbia's leadership in building constructive and good-neighborly relations with all countries in the region.

He emphasized, concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina, that the Dayton Agreement must be respected, a stance that is a mutual position of Moscow and Belgrade.

Lavrov also condemned attempts to destabilize Serbia.

"We support the efforts and stance of the President of Serbia on not allowing the destabilization of the situation in the country. The President of Serbia has presented concrete facts about the interference of foreign states. We condemn this practice and believe that the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of a country must be respected by all, primarily by our Western colleagues," he declared.
Lavrov noted that energy cooperation was also discussed, reminding that Russia is the largest supplier of gas to Serbia, covering 85% of its needs.

"We have never let down our Serbian friends and consistently, reliably supply this energy resource. Our cooperation is disliked by Western forces, who attempt to change the market using unfair methods of competition. They use unfair methods, which are also evident in EU countries where Russian gas is being pushed out to be replaced by much more expensive American liquefied natural gas," he said.
Lavrov highlighted that the two countries face a situation of unfair competition and attempts to impose sanctions on the joint company, NIS.

"They demand that Serbia renounce cooperation with the Russian investor. We have agreed to continue our joint work and not to harm our mutual interests," he emphasized.

He conveyed that another topic of discussion was the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, on May 9th in Moscow, adding that President Vučić has confirmed his attendance.
He also pointed out the successful operation of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Nis, which, he noted, has repeatedly proven effective in mitigating the consequences of natural disasters. He added that the construction of a training ground with Russian equipment is being completed, which will transform the Center into a unique regional institution for training experts in civil protection.

Djuric: Serbian Citizens Committed to Good Relations with Both Europe and Russia

In response to a journalist's question about the further development of Belgrade-Moscow relations, Djuric reiterated that Serbia's foreign policy is determined by the will of the Serbian people and will continue as long as President Aleksandar Vučić remains in power.

He emphasized that Serbian citizens are committed to developing good relations with both Europe and Russia.

"Despite numerous pressures, I feel very comfortable here today. These pressures partly come from the domestic political spectrum... I can only convey that Serbia will continue its independent and freedom-loving course in the future," Djuric declared.

Djuric: We Want Peace in Europe, Lavrov: Putin and Trump Agree to Renew Dialogue on All Issues

Speaking about Serbia's ambition to contribute to resolving the situation in Ukraine, Djuric highlighted that Serbia is a country with relatively modest geopolitical capabilities, given its population, but its desire for peace in Europe is strong.

"We have a great desire to contribute to solving this problem, and we are always ready to host any kind of formal or informal talks. President Vučić has spoken publicly about this, and in the coming period, there will certainly be discussions with the Russian leadership at the highest level about energy issues, but we do not miss the opportunity to offer Belgrade as a location for any kind of talks," said Djuric.

Every day that leads to peace, he notes, represents a positive value for Serbia.

"In that sense, our efforts have only such a goal," Minister Djuric asserted.
Lavrov stressed that Presidents Putin and Trump in a phone call agreed on the necessity to leave behind the "absolutely abnormal period in the relations of two great countries when they did not talk except about technical humanitarian issues."

Lavrov conveyed that Putin and Trump agreed on the necessity to renew dialogue on all issues that can be resolved with the participation of Russia and the USA.

"It was discussed resolving the Ukrainian crisis, the situation in the Middle East, and other regions of the world that are currently in a not so peaceful state. So we will always listen to our American counterparts and, of course, be ready to respond. Then, we will inform our leaders who will make further decisions on next steps," Lavrov emphasized.

He confirmed Russia's participation at Expo 2027 in Belgrade.

"Today, Minister Djuric confirmed that the best location awaits us there, and I hold him to his word. I wish our Serbian friends a successful hosting of this very important and honorable event," added Lavrov.
Lavrov: The Philosophy of Europeans Has Not Changed, What Then at the Negotiating Table
Asked how he comments on the statements of European leaders at the Munich Security Conference about the necessity for EU countries to participate in negotiations regarding Ukraine, Lavrov warned that—if Europeans seek "cunning ideas" to freeze the conflict while preparing Ukraine to continue the war—he does not see what they would then do at the negotiating table.

He also stated that "everyone should be responsible for their actions."

"When someone for many years violates their declared rules of the inviolability of property, freedom of expression and opinion, when everything is trampled without any conscience, violating others' international rights, when a Nazi regime is encouraged, which is armed to kill its own citizens, all under the pretext that we will hide under a nuclear umbrella. That will no longer be. One must bear responsibility for their actions, as it is written in the Bible," Lavrov reminded.

He said that the desire of EU countries to participate in the conversation around Ukraine had been satisfied, reminding that Germany and France participated in making the agreement in 2014, followed by the Minsk Agreement.

However, he points out that all rules were violated, and the agreements were used to arm Ukraine.

"Now, at the Munich Conference, the President of Finland says that it is necessary to sign a ceasefire and use it to strengthen Ukraine militarily. So the philosophy of Europeans has not changed at all, and I do not know what they will do at the negotiating table. If they will continue to seek some cunning ideas around freezing the conflict, as is their custom considering the continuation of the war, then why call them there," Lavrov questioned.

Asked what the stance of the European Parliament against the opening of Russian media, RT Balkan in Serbia, says about European values, Lavrov said that this television station has started operating and that Russia is grateful for the assistance provided by the Serbian leadership in resolving this issue.

"As for the EP, this situation shows that the work of that parliament is contrary to European values. Probably the answers to what today represents European values can be found in the protocol of the Munich Conference, including in the speech of the Vice President of the USA, Vence," Lavrov added.
Lavrov also said that the Munich conference confirmed that discussions about a compromise between Russia and Ukraine increasingly resemble a "scientific discussion."

"Now they mention the topic of territorial concession. One should read history," believes Lavrov.

He also said that the President of Ukraine lied to his voters upon coming to power, and notes that

Ukrainian leaders have only harsh words and threats for Russia, like the recent ambassador of that country in Kazakhstan who said, he reminds, that "their main task is to kill as many Russians as possible, so their children have less work."

Such Nazi statements sound even sharper than Hitler's, Lavrov warned.

"The best thing is, if we are talking about diplomacy, to first look at history, why the Russian language is banned in all spheres of life in Ukraine, why the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is banned. Why did no one talk about human rights that are guaranteed in the UN Charter? No one remembers that, only territorial concessions are talked about. Why? So that they continue to destroy Russians as they destroy them in Kursk region and in other regions of Russia," concluded Lavrov.