The Serbian Assembly approved on Wednesday the so-called Declaration on the Protection of National and Political Rights and the Common Future of the Serbian People, which emerged from an “All-Serb Assembly” last month in Belgrade.
The declaration, adopted on June 8 in Belgrade at a joint meeting of the Government of Serbia and that of the Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consists of 49 points and also mentions Kosovo.
It is stated that the Serbian people “constitute a single entity,” and although “throughout history, the Serbian population has lived in various states under different names, they have the right to preserve their rich tradition.” During the meeting on June 8 in Belgrade, there was a strong emphasis on the “full name of the southern Serbian province – “Kosova and Metohija” as a reference to the state of Kosova. The Serbian news agency Beta reports that the Declaration was approved with 139 votes in favor, receiving applause from representatives of the Serbian Government. Nine deputies voted against it, while none abstained from the vote.
The President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, was absent during the voting, despite prior announcements of his attendance at the Serbian Assembly. The Speaker of the Serbian Assembly, Ana Brnabić, had participated in the session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska when it voted on the Declaration in Banja Luka earlier this month, as reported by the N1 portal. The approval of this Declaration by Republika Srpska was condemned by members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as by the United States Embassy in Sarajevo.
What is said about Kosova?
In addition to the part about the name, the Declaration also mentions that Kosova “is an inseparable part of Serbia”, and that the All-Serbian Assembly supports the efforts of the Republic of Serbia to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty, guaranteed by international law, Resolution 1244 and other resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Among other things, it is mentioned that Serbs in Kosova, as well as all other citizens who are loyal to Serbia, must protect monasteries, churches, private property, cemeteries, and other endangered objects.
The signatories of the Declaration have also condemned what they have considered intolerable conditions of life for Serbs in Kosova, created by the authorities of Prishtina, but without mentioning any specific facts.
At another point, the need to create the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo is mentioned, as well as the continuation of the Kosova-Serbia dialogue in Brussels, as the only sustainable way to solve the problem.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosova and is constantly engaged in lobbying campaigns against Kosova.
The two countries have been in dialogue in Brussels for the normalization of relations since 2011.
The parties have signed a series of agreements, but not all have been implemented.
