Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, reiterated that Kosovo is an inseparable part of Serbia and described it as a central pillar of Serbia’s identity, culture, and spiritual heritage.
“For us Serbs, Kosovo is not merely a piece of land, but the cradle of our spirit and existence in this territory,” Vučić stated.
He claimed that Serbs living in Kosovo face dramatic conditions, alleging that their basic human rights are being denied, including the right to life, freedom of movement, education, healthcare, employment, and property.
Vučić called on the international community to take concrete and determined steps to halt what he described as violence in Kosovo, while emphasizing that Serbia remains committed to the EU-mediated dialogue.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a status Serbia refuses to recognize. More than 100 countries, including 22 of the 27 EU member states, have recognized Kosovo’s independence. Serbia and Kosovo have been engaged in dialogue for normalization since 2011, facilitated by the European Union. Although some agreements have been reached, implementation on the ground has been uneven.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent years. Since September 2023, there has been no political-level round of dialogue, with only discussions at the negotiators’ level. The last political round took place just days before the armed attack in Banjskë on September 24, 2023, in which a group of armed Serbs attacked Kosovo police, killing one officer. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Millan Radoičić, former deputy of the Serb List, the main Serbian party in Kosovo supported by Belgrade.
On the second anniversary of the Banjskë attack, Kosovo authorities requested the extradition of Radoičić and other participants, holding Serbia accountable for the incident.
