Jovanovic: Many countries have realized how dangerous the Kosovo precedent is, which is why there are no new recognitions

Former Yugoslav chief diplomat Vladislav Jovanovic says that new recognitions of Kosovo have been blocked for years because there are now different "winds" blowing in the world. Many countries have become aware of how dangerous attempts to legitimize and frame the unilateral declaration of independence by a national minority within the framework of international law can be.

For over three years, since September 2020 when Israel recognized Kosovo, there have been no new recognitions. In recent years, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, as many as 28 countries have withdrawn recognition of Kosovo, and Jovanovic points out that this is not surprising.

"In the world, different winds are blowing now; many countries are 'on hold' to see how geopolitical circumstances will unfold. On the other hand, the sale of the sui generis, a special case, is difficult because such a case has not been recorded in international relations where a national minority, by force, is pulled out of a UN and OSCE member country, declares independence, is rapidly recognized by Western protector forces, with pressure on other countries to do the same. Once they achieved a sufficient number, the pressure on the home country began to abandon its veto right and allow the newly born state of a national minority to enter the UN", Jovanovic says.

He adds that the problem is in the fact that according to all basic international documents, including the UN Charter and the fundamental document of the OSCE, national minorities do not have the right to self-determination or a state. The most they can have, he points out, with the consent of the home state, is the right to autonomy. That is why Kosovo had to remain under the guardianship of the United Nations, that is, Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council had to be adopted, respecting the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, that is, Serbia. However, Kosovo and the West persistently ignore this document.

"Now we have a world where the majority of states have national minorities that can always raise their heads and demand more than they are allowed, and this so-called special case is a path that leads to such a temptation. All these countries are now even more convinced that such a case must not be allowed to be formalized, absolutized, and become international law. And Americans, who are the parents of the so-called state of Kosovo, know this above all", he notes.

He continues that, since time obviously no longer works in their favor, they are in a hurry to finish that story as soon as possible.

"So, these attempts to hastily force Serbia, in exchange for the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, to give Kosovo a free hand to join the UN are underway. That's why the pressures have increased, and, in my opinion, we have an urgent obligation to continue where we left off and seek the withdrawal of recognition of Kosovo from everyone, including Western powers. This process of derecognition should continue vigorously and openly because it is the legitimate right of the state to defend itself from the aggressive efforts of other countries to diminish its territory for the sake of a national minority. This is not a violation of good relations with them; it is a legitimate right grounded in the documents of the OSCE and the UN Charter", Jovanovic believes.

He points out that Serbia agreed, as a sign of goodwill to contribute to a positive atmosphere in the dialogue, to freeze activities related to the derecognition of Kosovo with the Washington Agreement.

"However, we did not get a reward for the goodwill we showed. On the contrary, we received an unprincipled acceleration of the dialogue with threats and a direct call that we could get that weakened CSM, but on the condition that we give up on Kosovo. In my opinion, the situation is clear; we need to turn to our principles as soon as possible and look for friends where they exist, if those who were our friends until yesterday do not want to be that anymore", Jovanovic concludes.