MFA: Serbia does not recognize, has not recognized, and will not recognize Pristina’s secessionist acts

On the anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Republic of Serbia does not recognize, has not recognized, and will not recognize the secessionist acts of 2008, which represent a serious and flagrant violation of international law and of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as an internationally recognized member state of the United Nations.

“Also this year, on this day, when part of the international community, together with representatives of Pristina, marks and celebrates the anniversary of the secessionist act of the unilateral declaration of independence of the so-called Kosovo, we remind the international public that the Republic of Serbia does not recognize, has not recognized, and will not recognize the unilateral secessionist acts adopted on this day in 2008,” the Ministry’s statement says.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, it added, is obliged to point to the obvious double standards that continue to burden contemporary international relations and seriously undermine trust in international law.
“The unilateral declaration of independence of the so-called Kosovo constituted a serious and flagrant breach of international law, as well as of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an internationally recognized UN member state, contrary to the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter, which clearly affirm the inviolability of internationally recognized borders. Disregarding these principles opened a dangerous ‘Pandora’s box’, creating a precedent that has undermined stability across numerous regions of the world and encouraged unilateral and separatist moves, further weakening the foundations of the international legal order and confidence in the consistent application of its norms,” the statement reads.
The Ministry stresses that it is unacceptable, on the one hand, to insist resolutely and in a principled manner on respect for the territorial integrity of certain states, while at the same time justifying its violation in Serbia’s case.
“Such selective application of principles not only calls into question the universal validity of international law, but also sends a deeply troubling message that there are not equal rules for all in international relations,” the statement says.
Serbia’s MFA also underlines that, at the same time, members of the Serb people in Kosovo face some of the most flagrant forms of human-rights violations on European soil, and are exposed to daily pressure and continuous intimidation. As noted, Serbs in Kosovo are struggling to survive on their centuries-old ancestral lands, while in the 21st century their basic rights are being systematically restricted, including freedom of movement as well as access to healthcare and education.
“It is therefore legitimate to ask whether those who today mark and celebrate this date also remember more than 200,000 Serbs expelled from their homes, as well as hundreds of desecrated and destroyed religious and cultural sites, including some of the greatest Serbian shrines in Kosovo and Metohija, or whether these sufferings, too, are silently consigned to oblivion,” the statement says.
“Proceeding from the conviction that our dispute is not, and must not be, a dispute with the Albanian people, but rather with dangerous ideas and policies that deepen divisions and make it harder to reach lasting and sustainable solutions, the Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to a policy of peace, dialogue, and consistent respect for international law as the only reliable foundation for long-term security and stability in the region. At the same time, in accordance with international law and its constitutional obligations, Serbia will continue to consistently and resolutely protect the rights, security and survival of the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija,” the statement by Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes, on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Kosovo’s declaration of independence.