Vucic: Serbia will request an urgent session of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Kosovo

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, announced today that Serbia would request an urgent session of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Kosovo. He assessed that attacks on Serbian enclaves, as well as the CBK decision to abolish the dinar in Kosovo, aimed at ethnic cleansing of the Serbs. He also said that Serbia would continue to distribute money to the people in Kosovo on Monday through an authorized and licensed carrier in armored vehicles, which is the British company "Henderson".

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that today all Serbian enclaves had been attacked by the Kosovo Police, with the aim of further ethnic cleansing of the Serbs, following the decision of the CBK to abolish the dinar in Kosovo.

Vucic, in his address to the citizens at the Palace of Serbia, pointed out that the decision to abolish the dinar had not been made by any particular institution but had been made at the initiative of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

He stated that today, around 11 a.m., members of Kurti's police had entered the Temporary Organs in Pec, Istok, and Klin in several synchronized actions.

"They entered the Health Center in Osojane and closed it. They are in front of the pharmacy, harassing people, and rummaging through things. All Serbian enclaves in Metohija were attacked after a decision that has nothing to do with the formal decision of CBK; essentially, it is Kurti's decision to abolish the dinar," Vucic said.

"Kurti made the decision"

The President stated that after 1999, from the first Brussels Agreement to the principles signed in 2019, after all, and in each of these acts, the most significant norm is the right of the Republic of Serbia to finance certain activities, health care, education, and pensions for the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija.

"Albanians have never wanted to participate in the formation of the CSM, but this right has never been questioned. Kurti made a self-initiated decision with the following goal. It is the ethnic cleansing of the Serbian population from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija and the intentional enslavement of the Serbs with unbearable living conditions. They cannot calm down and understand that dialogue is essential, and we have a dialogue because Kosovo is not internationally recognized as a state. Otherwise, we would not have a dialogue. Kurti constantly invokes and expects the support of international forces, and they, as supposedly independent state, have the right to take that away. And we have the right to dialogue, which should happen," the President said.

"After 1999, from the first Brussels Agreement to the principles signed in 2019, after all, and in each of these acts, the most significant norm is the right of the Republic of Serbia to finance certain activities, health care, education, and pensions for the Serbian population in Kosovo. Albanians have never wanted to participate in the formation of the CSM, but this right has never been questioned," the President said, noting that Kurti had made a self-initiated decision with one goal.

"It is the ethnic cleansing of the Serbian population from the territory of Kosovo and Metohija and the intentional enslavement of the Serbs with unbearable living conditions," he said.

Euro de facto currency

He added that he believed Western partners would try to fight for the elementary rights of the Serbian population.

"We believe in what we have been told," Vucic said, adding that he would take all measures and that people in Kosovo and Metohija must know that Serbia would do everything for them to receive their incomes in difficult conditions.

"Those who know nothing except doing something against the state should not deceive the public that someone has talked about it before, that anyone else has participated in it. Neither the US nor the EU participated in this, maybe someone who rejoices in everything. The state will provide enough money, with increased incomes because, as of today, pensions are 14.8 percent higher, as well as salaries. We believe that Kurti will continue with hindrances and actions against the normal life of the Serbs. We will do our best for the Serbs to survive in Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovo is not an EU member; since 2002, they unilaterally adopted the euro as their currency. It is not a legal means of payment in Kosovo and Metohija. Even on the EU website, it is stated that Kosovo uses the euro as a de facto currency because it has no agreement with the EU," Vucic said.

The President clarified that when Pristina says "The National Bank is talking to their National Bank", they were actually seeking recognition, and, as he emphasized, they would not get it. He pointed out that they were using a new trick and insisted that the Postal Savings Bank must seek a special license and permit to operate, which was unnecessary because everything had always functioned on a reporting basis.

"Again, they are asking for recognition or giving some legitimacy to independent Kosovo," Vucic said, emphasizing that Pristina continued with all the bullying methods to expel the Serbs from Kosovo.

Vucic states that despite everything, Serbia will find a way to protect its people in Kosovo, and they have no reason to worry.

"We will find private banks that will get licenses. We will find solutions on how to pay money to our people, and our people should not worry. Is the situation easy? No, but Serbia will find methods to help them," Vucic emphasized.

"We have taken measures and filled the treasuries. Today, we paid out 650 million for everything we should pay through various institutions, mostly through the Postal Savings Bank, through our Post Office, through some other banks, we will pay around 22 million euros, or around 2.5 billion only through the Postal Savings Bank and 800 million dinars. Only through the Postal Savings Bank, we started in advance to pay salaries, pensions, and social benefits to our people in Kosovo, much earlier than the time for the payment of February benefits. By noon, we managed to pay five million euros. People are scared and waiting in lines to get their money; so far, we've paid almost a third. On Monday, we continue to pay money through an authorized and licensed carrier in armored vehicles, which is the British company Henderson. Through them, in accordance with the laws and what has always been done. We believe that this monetary payment will continue from Monday," the President said.

"We will address the Security Council"

He announced that Serbia would continue to work with international partners. He believes that now everyone in the international community understands how right Serbia was when it warned that one side was causing chaos and trying to escalate the situation on the ground. Vucic then announced that Serbia would request an urgent session of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Kosovo.

"I have written letters that have almost identical structures, as well as a personalized signature. From Monday, all EU representatives will receive them, as well as all members of the Security Council, including Russia and China. I will sign the letter as the President of the Republic; it is the longest and most difficult letter I have written. In it, I state that international law is being violated, and I have listed all escalatory moves by Pristina, as well as all the moves by Pristina that the international community has demanded. In accordance with Article 35 of the UN Charter, the Republic of Serbia will submit a request for a special session of the UN Security Council. We will submit the request in writing for an emergency session of the UN Security Council. We will see. No one has the right to veto; it takes a majority of nine members. All others who have recognized independence will probably vote for holding that session. So, we will continue with consultations, seek the session, and we will not give up the UN Charter as the highest act regulating relations between states," the President said.

He then addressed the Serbs in Kosovo.

"I want to say to the people in Kosovo and Metohija. I know the situation you are in. I know how some who express concern do not care about the Serbs. I am well aware that those who do not know any place on the map of Kosovo, even those who advocate for an independent Kosovo never stop accusing Belgrade of everything. I want to remind you that Kosovo has been independent since 2008, and all this time, we have managed to preserve the Serbian population as much as possible. We paid money, fought for our people, and we will never leave people in the lurch. Kosovo is a part of our country, and it will always be. We will fight and succeed," Vucic said.

The "Banjska" case

Responding to journalists' questions, President Vucic said that the "Banjska" case had been the resistance of the Serbs and people living in northern Kosovo and Metohija.

"Unlike the policemen who came to liquidate them, those who were there were from northern Kosovo. It was about suppressing and attacking the Serbs who wanted to fight for their freedom. They asked for one thing that we did – in December when they had barricades, they asked for support from their state, Serbia. They are not the ones violating international law; it's those who sent the police and those who supported them. They asked not to be hunted like animals because they participated in the barricades. I talked to everyone, with Lajcak, and Eskobar, and got assurances that no one would prosecute them. When I told the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, they said, 'We trust you, but not them. They will hunt us like rabbits.' I don't know what more guarantees we could get, I told them. Then they started hunting them like rabbits, and that's when people resisted. They still haven't given the autopsy report to the families because it would show that two out of three Serbs were not killed from a distance but cold-bloodedly up close," Vucic said.

Daily decisions

Answering journalists' questions, Vucic reiterated that it was extremely important for the Serbs in Kosovo to receive money, and decisions would be made on a daily basis accordingly.

"We don't want the Serbs to be harmed for even a second, and no longer than three days, regarding their competencies. That's what we can do," Vucic stated.

He emphasized that Serbia would continue to finance the Serbs, and they had no reason to worry.

"The state finances everything, and we will continue to finance them; they are our citizens, living in our country," Vucic stated.

When asked about the praise in Pristina for abolishing the dinar and arming with Javelin missiles, Vucic pointed out that it was not as it seemed and that Serbia had much better weaponry. He believes that numerous issues in Serbia are being abused and manipulated for their own benefit.

"I am not a Europhile; I am very pragmatic and rational on that matter. I believe our European path is important, but I know very well what many countries have done to us politically, especially concerning Kosovo. I strive to protect Serbia from heavy blows, to do the best we can, and to continue modernizing and reforming the country," he emphasized.

"We have better weapons than Javelins"

He highlighted that Pristina boasted about Javelin anti-tank missiles, although they hadn't received them yet.

"In Pristina, they don't have Javelins. Whether they will get them, we'll see. We have much better weapons and tools than Javelins; we have “Kornets“ that hit targets at seven to eight kilometers, while Javelins hit at four kilometers. They need Javelins, but Kornets are not even necessary for us," Vucic pointed out.

He explains that Pristina doesn't have serious mechanized units that Serbia would destroy with "Kornets". He added that Pristina's arming was necessary for destroying Serbian helicopters, but Serbia didn't need that because Pristina, like many in the region, didn't have helicopters.

He emphasized that Serbia had dozens of helicopters, and there would be even more in the future, which Pristina could only dream of.

"We didn't get anything from the Americans; they didn't want to give us any weapons. Still, we managed and acquired even better ones. These are some anti-aircraft machine guns and cannons. We now produce our own cannons and everything we need," Vucic stated.

About Kurti and Svecla

Regarding the statements from Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, on whether he sees it as new intimidation of the Serbs, Vucic stated that Svecla and Kurti were doing everything to drive the Serbs away from their homes.

"Kurti and Svecla think they can achieve their political goals through terror, despite the gravity of the situation, which dates back not ten or twenty years but from the sixties and seventies. We will defend our national and vital interests smartly and wisely, with strength, and by waiting for the right moments," Vucic emphasized.

He commented, alluding to Svecla and Kurti, that he liked when someone felt mighty and strong, thinking they could do anything. According to him, that is good.

"We need to be careful, responsible, and serious," Vucic said.