Đurić: Serbia remains the voice of truth and the defender of the rights of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija

Minister Đurić emphasized that Serbia gave its utmost during the session to ensure that the voice and outcry of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, whose fundamental rights have been gravely violated, could be heard. He recalled that both the UN Charter and international law have been trampled upon, and that the position of Serbs in the province today is analogous to the period of apartheid in South Africa.

Stressing that Serbia has clearly reiterated that it stands on the side of international law, peace, and dialogue, and that it decisively opposes any conflict or violence as a means of resolving disputes, Đurić said that he began his speech by quoting Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest fighters for the rights of oppressed peoples, in order to remind the world that even today, in Europe, there exists a people whose fundamental rights are being violated in a similar manner.

He particularly drew attention to a series of systematic measures undermining the survival of the Serbian people in the province, such as the closure of more than 120 institutions, including sports and healthcare centers, as well as the endangerment of churches and monasteries.

“This is nothing short of terror against people who simply wish to live on their own land,” Minister Đurić declared.

He also noted that a significant number of countries, including some that have recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, condemned the repression and violation of agreements by Pristina. According to him, for the first time today, almost all Security Council members clearly voiced condemnation of the violence against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

The Serbian Foreign Minister added that the delegation from Pristina attempted during the session to paint a distorted, overly optimistic picture, speaking about alleged progress and respect for human rights, while making unfounded accusations against Serbia.

“We even heard claims that the problem lies with the Serbs themselves in Kosovo and Metohija, as if they were persecuting themselves — an absurd statement that reveals the very nature of Pristina’s policies,” Đurić said.

He underlined that Serbia has no problem with the Albanian people, but rather with ‘tyrants like Kurti,’ who wish to subjugate the Serbs and enforce an ethno-nationalist agenda.

Minister Đurić expressed his conviction that, after today’s session, Serbia is one step closer to achieving a broader consensus within the international community on the need to protect the Serbian people and their rights. He recalled that the European Union and the United States have already sent a clear signal of condemnation toward Pristina’s conduct — through the EU’s restrictive measures and the suspension of the strategic dialogue by the U.S. administration.

Speaking about relations with the United States, the Minister said that Serbia respects Washington’s clear message to Pristina, even though it disagrees with its position on the role and importance of UNMIK.

“We must be fair. The United States, on this occasion, has demonstrated through its actions that it does not tolerate violations of the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Đurić stated. He added that, during his stay in New York, he would also hold meetings with senior American officials.

Đurić also highlighted the symbolic yet telling removal of the Cyrillic sign ‘Kosovska Mitrovica’, which was replaced with an inscription in Albanian accompanied by a green heart — a move he described as an attempt to further deepen divisions between Serbs and Albanians. Serbia, he stressed, acts in the opposite way — building peace, cooperation, and economic development throughout the region.

He concluded that this session served as the final call and warning to Pristina to cease repression and violence.
“Enough of oppression, enough of trampling on the Serbian people and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and Metohija,” Đurić declared.

Minister Đurić reaffirmed that Serbia will continue to fight for its rights everywhere and every day. He expressed gratitude to diplomats, institutional representatives, and the Serb List, who, through their work and arguments, contributed to ensuring that the truth about the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija was reflected in the UNMIK report.

Đurić described the report itself as a step forward, as it objectively reflects numerous problems on the ground. He particularly welcomed the positions of France and several other countries that expressed support for the continued and significant role of UNMIK, despite Pristina’s attempts to discredit the mission’s work.