Djuric: The Serbian Community in Kosovo and Metohija in the worst position since 1999; Fajon: De-escalation of the situation is necessary

Marko Djuric, Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija is in its most difficult position since 1999. He made this statement during a press conference with Slovenia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, and called for the full implementation of the Brussels Agreement.

During his two-day working visit to Slovenia, Djuric emphasized the significance of the day for Serbian-Slovenian relations.

"Today, we discussed the overall improvement of our diplomatic, political, and economic relations in all areas, addressing unresolved issues inherited from the 1990s, with a clear understanding that we also want to enhance topics that concern the present and future. We aim to further encourage cooperation between our economies, which are already experiencing growth in collaboration," Djuric said.

This visit underscores efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and resolve longstanding issues, while also focusing on the Serbian community's current challenges in Kosovo.

Marko Djuric highlighted that his discussions with Tanja Fajon also covered European integration, and he expressed Serbia's gratitude to Slovenia for its continuous support in the Western Balkans' EU enlargement process.

"In this regard, I informed my colleague, Tanja Fajon, of Serbia's intention and ambition to fully implement the reform agenda adopted by the Serbian government by 2027. Serbia, a friendly and close country to Slovenia, will be institutionally ready to join the European Union by 2027. The Serbian government has taken this task very seriously, and we are grateful for the support in opening Cluster 3, which encourages the integration process of our region into the European Union," Djuric stated.

Additionally, the Serbian Foreign Minister noted that the talks also addressed unresolved issues from the 1990s, as well as the relationship between Belgrade and Pristina.

This dialogue underscores Serbia's commitment to EU integration and its efforts to resolve historical and regional challenges, with Slovenia playing a supportive role in these processes.

Marko Djuric emphasized that he had informed his Slovenian colleagues about the difficult situation facing the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. He stated, "The Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija is in the worst position since 1999, and Serbia calls for the full implementation of the Brussels Agreement, full respect for the collective, human, political, and economic rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and a normalization process under the auspices of the European Union that is based on honoring what has been agreed upon so far."

He thanked the Slovenian hosts for their contribution to maintaining peace and stability in Kosovo through their KFOR contingent and other international missions. Djuric reiterated Serbia's strong commitment to preserving stability, peace, and finding European solutions to all unresolved issues in the dialogue with Pristina. However, he stressed that Serbia also demands respect for the standards that apply throughout Europe and adherence to the agreements made.

He also highlighted the long-standing positive economic cooperation between Serbia and Slovenia. "We want to give a further boost to mutual investments in the coming period. The past years have been record-breaking in terms of job creation and mutual investments. However, both Serbia and Slovenia, as pioneers in innovation, I believe, can achieve much together through cooperation. We believe that academic cooperation, involving over a thousand Serbian students studying in Slovenia, can also be further improved, and we will work to contribute to that," he said.

Djuric added that later in the day, discussions would cover other international issues, including the Middle East, the situation in Europe, and the war in Ukraine. "I am confident that these political consultations at the ministerial level, which will continue at other levels, will contribute to a deeper understanding between our two policies and help create an even more favorable climate for our future cooperation," he stated.

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon also commented on the Kosovo issue, saying, "We discussed the issue of Kosovo and the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It is essential to maintain dialogue, especially in northern Kosovo, and to achieve de-escalation of the situation," Fajon said during the joint press conference with Djuric.

Fajon's call for de-escalation reflects the international concern over rising tensions in northern Kosovo, while Djuric's focus remains on the importance of respecting agreements and protecting the rights of the Serbian community.

Tanja Fajon emphasized that Slovenia is sincerely and firmly advocating for the European Union's enlargement to the Western Balkans, believing that the time has finally come to consider this issue from a geostrategic perspective and to proceed with the enlargement.

She noted that it is the right time for Serbia to open a new chapter during Hungary’s presidency of the EU.

Fajon also highlighted the shared history between Slovenians and Serbs, pointing out that some exceptional Slovenians have contributed to shaping life within Serbian society.

"History has shown that we have always been able to overcome any misunderstandings, and that our friendly relations are built on solid foundations. We agreed that, despite some differences, with goodwill, we will overcome them together," Fajon stated.

She further mentioned that the cooperation between the two countries is very diverse and dynamic.

"Serbia is an important economic partner for Slovenia and a regional actor in our neighborhood, which is why we maintain regular contact. We have agreed to intensify political consultations and to organize a joint session between our governments. Our good relations are also reflected in the fields of culture, science, and education," Fajon said, adding that she is particularly pleased that around 1,500 students from Serbia are studying in Slovenia during this academic year.

This reinforces the strong cultural and academic ties between the two countries, alongside their economic and political cooperation, all of which contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.

Fajon mentioned that the two countries also cooperate in other areas, such as dealing with natural disasters, and she expressed her gratitude for Serbia's assistance during last year's severe floods in Slovenia.

"Serbia is the second most important destination for Slovenian investments, and trade between the two countries has exceeded two billion euros. We would like to see more investments from Serbia in Slovenia," she stated.

She added that they also discussed the issue of the inheritance of the former Yugoslavia (SFRJ) and noted that Slovenia believes it is time to bring that process to a conclusion. She emphasized that working groups should hold regular meetings to address each aspect of the agreement on inheritance.

This reflects the intention of both countries to resolve outstanding historical matters while also expanding economic cooperation and investment, building on already strong trade relations.