Vucic: There is no justice for Serbs in Kosovo, why is the UN Charter not respected in the case of Serbia

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated this evening, in his address to the participants of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, that Serbia, despite global difficulties, persists in defending the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. He pointed out that the modern breakdown began with the violation of the UN Charter by failing to respect Serbia's territorial integrity.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, noted that during today’s session of the UN General Assembly, many world leaders highlighted that the attack on Ukraine and the violation of that country's territorial integrity was a precedent, a violation of the UN Charter and international law. He pointed out that violations of the UN Charter and international law, as well as precedents, were made many years ago when Serbia's territorial integrity was breached.

"Today, we heard from many that the attack on Ukraine opened Pandora's box, breaking the UN Charter and international law, but this is not true. Of course, Serbia supports the UN Charter and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but when they talk about Ukraine's freedom and rights, I wonder why Serbia's territorial integrity was not respected, why the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 were not honored, which were violated in a display of power, believing they could dismantle the norms of international law and rush towards dismantling all standards," Vucic said.

He added that in 1999, at the UN General Assembly, there was an attempt to reach consensus on the bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but since there was no agreement, the decision was made without the UN.

"They didn’t care," emphasized the Serbian president.

Vucic stressed that despite global challenges, Serbia perseveres in defending the principles of international law and supports the idea carried by the main theme of this General Assembly session.

He noted that, unfortunately for everyone, the global situation this year is tougher and darker than a year ago, with increasingly complex challenges.

The Serbian president also added that despite all the declarations for peace by world leaders, the nightmare seems to have no end, and humanity is increasingly relying on technology, while turning away from humanity.

"Serbia and the Serbian people sympathize with the lost lives in the Middle East and Ukraine," Vucic said, emphasizing that it is unforgivable that, in the 21st century, we are discussing the number of children killed in conflicts.

"The world is on the brink of nuclear catastrophe, we are approaching the edge of the abyss, no one is listening to anyone else, there is only our truth, and others must disappear. We must talk, even when we disagree. Serbia will fully support greater representation of African countries in the Security Council, we must stop the practice of double standards, restore faith in peace, the only path that has no alternative. We owe this to all innocent victims. The future of the world is our choice, but also our responsibility," the Serbian president concluded.

Vucic stated that modern destabilization began with the violation of the UN Charter, specifically when Serbia's territorial integrity was not respected.

"I will explain using the example of Serbia – how it was torn apart, trampled on, and how it remains a thorn in the side of the powerful. After major victories in World War I and II – we Serbs proportionally lost the most population in the Great War, and we did not prepare flowers for Nazi cannons. But, this glorious and difficult past is not the topic of my address. I want to speak about a precedent, the opening of Pandora's box that wasn’t opened three or four years ago, but many years ago, and everyone has remained silent about it,” Vucic said.

“We just happened to be the ones who paid the high price, but it could have been anyone else,” Vucic noted, adding that he does not deny Serbia's responsibility but emphasized that, in essence, the fate of a small nation, without rights and justice, was decided by powerful Western forces.

After the bombing, it didn’t end; they began dismembering Serbia, a sovereign, democratic, internationally recognized country, a member of the UN and OSCE.

The President displayed a document stating that no armed force except those under UN control – currently KFOR – is allowed on Kosovo's territory, in accordance with UN Resolution 1244, which affirms Kosovo as part of Serbia.

He pointed out that despite this, those who attacked Serbia and tried to separate part of its territory are now, on a daily basis, arming the Kosovo Security Forces, which will soon become an Albanian army on Serbian territory.

"And when you ask them under what international act they are doing this – because it is an attempt to provoke war and dismantle UN norms – you receive the dumbest possible answer: ‘Well, we don’t accept the UN Charter or the UN Resolution because, for us, the situation has changed, since we recognized Kosovo’s independence.’”

“So the question is: what should small countries do, how can they fight?" the President asked.

“Today, the whole world talks about Ukraine, but no one dares to talk about Serbia. And when they do, they speak as if we are about to start a war in the Balkans under Russian orders. And they have been lying about this for more than two and a half years,” the President stated.

He emphasized that Serbia is not a servant of either Russia or the United States but has its own policy and interests.

"The only hope, not just for my country, but for yours as well, is that you truly understand the mechanisms of lies and deceit in international relations. We must gather here, in this most important organization, to try to reform it, to try to respect it. Only then can we preserve peace," said the President.

Vucic warned that the world is on the brink of catastrophe, and in this world, everyone claims to defend principles, yet no one admits any mistakes, and it's obvious that no one truly follows principles.

"Neither side does. Only the small nations, who have nowhere to go, cling to principles. And the big powers, having trampled on the small, are now left to devour each other. And when their bites are no longer so easy or small, they suddenly remember principles and accuse the other side of violating those same principles,” Vucic warned.

He recalled that on March 24, 1999, Serbian diplomat Vladislav Jovanovic made an urgent appeal to all countries in the UN Security Council to categorically oppose the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

"Look at how his words sound 25 years later. 'If the aggression is not stopped, the precedent of such unpunished aggression will sooner or later lead to attacks on many other small and medium-sized countries. The real question is: who is the next country?' Today, you have heard several suggestions about which countries might be next,” Vucic emphasized.

The President also quoted former U.S. President Barack Obama, who said that "true peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, freedom, and opportunity for all."

Serbs, he said, are a reasonable nation, but because of fanaticism, for Serbs in Kosovo, there is no presence of justice.

“There are many ongoing issues there, such as the banning of the Serbian currency for over six months, the prohibition of postal services, all of which threaten the lives of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities. The denial of a visit by the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, to the Pec Patriarchate is another example. How else can we explain the armed raid by Pristina's special police on September 9 into the ‘Support Me’ association, which includes parents and children with developmental disabilities? This too was a senseless act,” Vucic said.

He pointed out that Nelson Mandela once said, “True and lasting peace can only be achieved through justice and respect for human rights,” and asked how peace can be achieved in Kosovo when the legal order and basic rights of an entire people are systematically violated.

Vucic said the key question is: what is Serbia’s path, and how can it emerge from this situation?

He reaffirmed that Serbia is on the European path and wants to be part of the EU.

"Serbia's economy is the most successful in the entire Western Balkans. But today, when that same EU makes it clear through statements from its spokesperson Peter Stano that it doesn’t want to respect principles based on the UN Charter or even the decisions of its European Council by supporting the independence of so-called Kosovo, because that is in the interest of the biggest powers in Europe,” Vucic said.

He noted that Serbia is a small country that cannot compete with great powers, but it has an obligation to speak the truth to everyone.

Since, as he added, the great powers are not interested in either law or truth, Serbia has no other choice but to be committed to its economic progress, rapid growth, new technologies, and innovations.

"It is up to Serbia to look to the future and wait for the moment when the principles of international law will be returned to the world stage,” Vucic said.

Serbia, he stressed, will remain committed to dialogue with Pristina under the EU’s auspices and will fight to preserve peace.

"There is only one thing we will never give up: the freedom and independence of Serbia. As President of Serbia, I believe in a world based on true, not false values, and I believe that the strength of developing countries, all of us who have raised our heads and dare to speak the truth, will be the foundation of a new, different, and better world," concluded the President of Serbia.