Minister Đurić at the Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Luxembourg

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Đurić, stated today, following his address at the ministerial meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) in Luxembourg, that the most important news for the citizens of Serbia is that the self-proclaimed “Kosovo” and the provisional self-government institutions in Priština have not become and will not become a member of the Council of Europe.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Minister Đurić said that in his remarks before the Committee of Ministers, he emphasized that it must not be forgotten that Serbia was admitted to the CoE 22 years ago as a democratic state that embraced the principles of democracy and international law—within its United Nations-recognized borders.

“In my view, loyalty to Serbia means loyalty to the truth. And the truth is that Serbia became a member of this organization 22 years ago as a democratic state, within its borders, including Kosovo and Metohija,” Đurić said.

He added that it is unacceptable for the borders of a democratic or any state to be redrawn arbitrarily, contrary to the UN Charter.

The Serbian Foreign Minister stressed that Serbia is a country firmly committed to the principles of international law and advocates for democratic—not ethnocratic or ethno-nationalist—principles.

“In that regard, it is significant that the Quint countries did not support the inclusion of Priština’s membership request on the agenda. Citizens should know that Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe was also prevented last year thanks to Serbia’s diplomatic efforts—primarily through the high-level diplomatic activities of President Vučić and his discussions with European leaders at that time,” Đurić underlined.

According to him, it is also very important that Serbian parliamentarians continue to work closely with their colleagues in the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE.

The Minister added that, unfortunately, Kurti’s regime has continued to violate the collective rights of Serbs over the past year, which he believes was taken into consideration by the member states.

He noted that more than two-thirds of CoE members recognized the independence of “Kosovo” immediately after its unilateral declaration, but that this year Serbia’s position ultimately prevailed.

Commenting on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Minister Đurić referred to the intervention of that country’s representative, who, according to him, presented an one-sided and distorted view.

Minister Đurić reiterated Serbia’s commitment to the Dayton Agreement, to internal democratic dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its rejection of misrepresentations that undermine the position of the Republic of Srpska.

The session also addressed the situation in Ukraine. According to Minister Đurić, Serbia expressed support for the territorial integrity of that country, but distanced itself from certain decisions related to the establishment of a tribunal, acting in line with its national interests.

He concluded that today Serbia presented a clear stance—both on its national interests and on global issues—while supporting the strategic objectives of the Council of Europe and the values on which the organization was founded.

“We remain committed to the principles of territorial integrity and the UN Charter, and we uphold democratic values. We do not interfere in the internal affairs of other states. Some support and appreciate that, others do not, but I believe this approach best serves our national interests,” the Minister concluded.