Starovic: It is necessary to insist on an emergency UN Security Council session on Kosovo

Nemanja Starovic, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense, stated that the decision of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, to request a session of the United Nations Security Council on Kosovo was an important step that would be beneficial for the further implementation of Serbia's policies and the protection of the Serbian people's interests.

"It is necessary to insist on convening an emergency session of the UN Security Council in line with tactical positioning, yet closely connected with the rotation in the position of the UN Security Council presidency, at the most favorable moment, in order for this initiative to have a chance of success. During this session, it is essential to discuss the difficult position of our people in Kosovo," Starovic stated in the Morning Program on RTS.

Starovic emphasized that, despite Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti saying that there had been a de-escalation of the situation on the ground for two months, it was far from the truth.

"We still observe a constant deployment of Kosovo Police's specialized militarized forces in four municipalities in northern Kosovo. Our compatriots rightfully feel endangered, and the only thing Kurti's special units are capable of doing is harassing the Serbian people," Starovic added.

He also pointed out that Kurti was attempting to evict Serbian institutions from the building in North Mitrovica where they were located.

"These institutions are of importance for the everyday life of our people living in North Mitrovica and beyond, and this move could contribute to further escalation. It's good that we heard condemnation from one side by the US Ambassador in Pristina, but I'm afraid that if such a statement is not accompanied by concrete measures toward Kurti and the holders of power in Pristina, all these mild condemnations could be equivalent to a kind of tacit approval, which is akin to complicity," Starovic conveyed.

Starovic stressed that Kurti was not giving up on his policy and that Serbia and the Serbs in Kosovo were facing a challenging period.

"Adding to this are the announcements of postponing the census, pressures that will follow on Belgrade, as well as on Serbs due to that census. Also, there's the attempt at holding new elections under conditions that have not changed, wherein we still have something resembling the occupation of northern Kosovo. We are truly facing a difficult period," Starovic stated.

Regarding the informal dinner held in Athens, attended by regional leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Starovic said that impressions were still being assessed.

"For me, the format of the meeting was a bit odd, considering the leaders who were invited and those who were not. Taking that into account, the format was challenging and unfavorable for the President of Serbia, yet he managed to achieve the maximum. We, as citizens, can be satisfied; he succeeded in defending Serbia's national interests and preserving the integrity of the political course we've taken in relation to the Ukrainian crisis. Alongside any expressions of satisfaction that we might have, consider the reactions of the media in Pristina. You can observe their dissatisfaction, even bitterness, because Kurti did not get a chance to meet Zelenskyy, who didn't even mention him. The main headline that emerged was that Vucic managed to intervene in the final text of the adopted Resolution through his amendments, where the need for strengthening sanctions against Russia is not mentioned. Also, one of the important news is that Greece and Ukraine will not change their position on Kosovo," Starovic stated.

As he added, all things considered, Serbia can be content with the meeting.

"In Athens, Vucic managed to persist in our course. We don't want to be treated as a party in the war, and we don't want to impose sanctions on Russia, as we don't believe that economic sanctions should be used as a tool of foreign policy, and we succeeded in maintaining that position," Starovic concluded.