Gouillon with U.S. Congressmen on Pristina’s new law: Serbs must not be second-class citizens in their own homes

The Director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Arnaud Gouillon, met during his visit to Washington with several members of the United States Congress, with whom he discussed the position of the Serbian people in Kosovo, current geopolitical circumstances, and the importance of developing a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the United States.

In the U.S. capital, Gouillon held talks with Congressmen Randy Fine, Andy Ogles, Keith Self, Ryan Zinke, and Byron Donalds, and also had the opportunity to meet with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, one of the organizers of the “Alliance of Sovereign Nations” Summit, which was held in Washington in recent days, according to a statement from the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy.

During the discussions, he pointed out the challenges faced by Serbs in Kosovo, as well as their increasingly difficult position, particularly in the context of the new law on foreigners adopted by Pristina, which, he assessed, could become yet another instrument of administrative pressure and institutional persecution of Serbs.

“Such discussions are of particular importance because they allow the voice of the Serbian people and Serbia’s position to be heard directly in places where important political decisions are made. My interlocutors listened very carefully to the challenges faced by Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to my concerns about the increasingly difficult position of our people in the southern province,” Gouillon stated.

He emphasized that during the talks he particularly pointed out that Serbs in Kosovo are a Christian people who have preserved their shrines, monasteries, and spiritual identity for centuries, despite numerous attacks, pogroms, and pressures from radical Albanian groups.

“Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija must not be treated as second-class citizens in their own homes. Basic rights, security, and a dignified life must be guaranteed to all communities,” Gouillon stressed.

He added that during the meetings views were also exchanged on the broader geopolitical context, as well as on the importance of launching a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the United States.

“At a time when the importance of state sovereignty is increasingly being discussed around the world, it is important that the voice of sovereign Serbia is heard in the U.S. Congress as well. Serbia remains committed to peace and stability, but also determined to protect its people and its national interests,” Gouillon emphasized.

The “Alliance of Sovereign Nations” Summit was held in Washington and organized by U.S. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna with the support of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Johnson. The gathering brought together political leaders, members of Congress, and experts from the United States and Europe who advocate policies emphasizing state sovereignty.

At the summit, Arno Gouillon, Director of the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, also addressed participants, representing the Republic of Serbia on a panel dedicated to energy security.