Selaković: Continuation of UNMIK's work in undiminished scope and with unchanged mandate is important

12. Oct 2021.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today with the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo and Metohija, Zahir Tanin..

The Minister said that our country insists on the necessity to consistently respect the UNSC Resolution 1244, and underlined that it is of key importance for Serbia that the engagement of UNMIK continues in an undiminished scope and with an unchanged mandate.

In the conversation, Selaković referred to the recent situation at the administrative crossings between Kosovo and Metohija and central Serbia.

The head of Serbian diplomacy emphasized that unilateral actions are the worst way to resolve disagreements, because in that way problems are produced, not solutions. According to him, there is no reasonable alternative to dialogue.

Selaković underlined that Belgrade would continue to insist on protecting the Serb population in Kosovo and Metohija and preserving peace and stability.

Speaking about the importance of regular consideration of the issue of Kosovo and Metohija in the UNSC and the upcoming session on the work of UNMIK, Selaković said that he expects the latest events in the north of the province to be adequately and objectively presented in the UN Secretary General's report, since such moves by Pristina can lead to severe consequences and destabilization.

Selaković added that he was very concerned that the number of attacks aimed at Serbs and their property, as well as the property of the Serbian Orthodox Church, had increased in the past period, emphasizing that 106 such ethnically motivated incidents had been recorded since the beginning of the year.

When it comes to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Selaković explained that Belgrade approaches the talks constructively and that it is committed to finding compromise solutions. He also stated that eight years have passed since the signing of the Brussels Agreement, and that there has been no progress in the implementation of the obligations undertaken by Pristina, primarily in connection with the establishment of the Association of Serbian Municipalities.