Djuric: The military alliance of Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia violates the 1996 Subregional Arms Control Agreement

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric emphasized that Serbia has responded to the military alliance of Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia with dignity and solid arguments, referring to facts and demanding transparency, as well as a departure from the politics of division and conflict.

He pointed out that Serbia knows the content of the military agreement and that it violates the 1996 Subregional Arms Control Agreement, which is part of the Dayton Agreement.

Speaking about the military agreement between Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia on Blic TV, Djuric noted that if one is in a post-conflict region and someone starts forming military alliances without informing others, it naturally raises concerns.

“That is somewhat unfair behavior towards neighbors, even if there is no serious underlying intent. We are left to speculate whether there are more dangerous intentions behind it because our counterparts have been insufficiently transparent, refusing to share the contents of these pacts and alliances. We know what is written in them, but not through official channels. We have our institutions and bodies that allow us to know precisely what these documents contain. Our security services are always prepared to respond to any challenges, but I believe that in this region, we should not be fueling new arms races or violating the 1996 Subregional Arms Control Agreement, which is part of the Dayton Agreement, as military capacities are being increased without mutual agreement. I think we should agree that in the next 10 years, we have a moratorium on conflicts, regional disputes, and irresponsible behavior," Minister Djuric stated.

He also remarked that it is not easy to negotiate with people who, at their core, are separatists and who were involved in horrific events during the 1990s. He highlighted that political circumstances have fundamentally changed with the rise to power of Albin Kurti, whom he described as obsessed with eliminating all Serbian presence from Kosovo.

“He cannot offer citizens anything in terms of economic development or quality of life improvement. Instead, he has decided to act as a great national hero of the Albanian people, aiming to ethnically cleanse the territory of Serbs. However, this is a futile endeavor because, for Serbs, Kosovo and Metohija is not just 13% of our territory—it answers the fundamental question of who we are as a people and a community. Our holy sites, churches, and the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church are there. Let’s not forget the disgraceful fact that our Patriarch Porfirije was banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija and was denied the right to visit UNESCO-listed monasteries in the 21st century, in Europe. Kurti began his campaign of terror two and a half years ago, and the international community has only verbally condemned it. Serbs are second-class citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, and that is not just our disgrace, but also that of those who created this project," the foreign minister asserted.

When asked about the possibility of a military alliance between Serbia and Hungary, Djuric responded positively.

“I believe that anything that strengthens Serbia’s capacity to act independently in the international arena, protect its national interests, and enhance the security of all its citizens is a positive development. What has been achieved in relations with Hungary over the past 12 years, since the signing of the historic Agreement on National Reconciliation, is a legacy for future generations. It is a European example of how two nations can build a new type of relationship, and a major achievement of President Vucic’s policy. We have responded to this challenge—an alliance that many describe as an anti-Serb axis—with dignity, solid arguments, relying on facts, and demanding transparency and a departure from the politics of division and conflict. Our goal is not to win an argument but to solve a problem,” Djuric emphasized.

The Serbian foreign minister stated that increased diplomatic activity is excellent and that transparency is of utmost importance.

“As the foreign minister, whenever such serious matters arise in our country, they impact our capacity to act on the international stage. What is happening now is not good for Serbia’s image. We live in an era where our people have been labeled, and the 1990s continue to linger as an image of us in many parts of the world. Now, recent events are being added to that narrative,” Djuric said.

He added that questions about the situation in Serbia and developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina are being raised frequently these days.

“Serbia stands with the Republic of Srpska and will fight for the guarantees it has under the Dayton Agreement. At the moment, we have a chance to make progress with the new U.S. administration after a long time,” Djuric stated.

He emphasized that Serbia is working on improving its diplomatic position.

“The key formula for continuing our success in this field—where there is a significant consensus in foreign policy—is Serbia’s European path, which we have consistently pursued for 25 years. This path has never depended on us alone. I believe that since February 2022, our foreign policy has managed to avoid getting drawn into a geopolitical rift that could have internally destabilized our society and weakened its economic and security capacities. This was due to President Vucic’s swift conclusions from the National Security Council, which have stood the test of time. This debate should aim to adapt to new circumstances and formulate new conclusions,” the foreign minister concluded.