YouSaid · the spoken record

Citaku

lines on the record: 330
first: 2010-11-12
most recent: 2019-10-31
sittings or episodes: 17
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Yet Kosovo has never placed conditions on the dialogue process because, for us, building a prosperous Kosovo, at peace with its neighbours, is the best way to honour the sacrifice that was made. Although our scars may never fully heal, we will not be hostage to our own pain. Even today, we heard attempts to rewrite history. We heard no remorse for the crimes that were committed, from Srebrenica to Racak and Izbica. The war in former Yugoslavia happened before the eyes of the world. We all know who the victims are and who the perpetrators are. There is one address and that is in Belgrade. The Kosovo Liberation Army was not a criminal or terrorist organization. It comprised young women and men who had the courage to stand up and fight Milosevic. We are very proud of that.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“The bottom line is that Serbia will use any excuse that it can find, and it will invent more if there are no excuses, only to delay the inevitable, namely, the recognition of Kosovo as a free and independent State. All the excuses and delays do not alter the fact that Kosovo is a free nation. Dialogue should therefore not be conditional on excuses because, at the end of the day, Kosovo has real and painful reasons to place conditions on the process. We have 20,000 reasons, for each of the women that were raped by the Serbian military forces. We have 1,370 more, for each child who was killed in Kosovo by the Serbian military forces. We have 1,600 reasons, for each and every one of the people who are still missing today.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“No product whatsoever that is labelled made in Kosovo can pass the Serbian border. Why should Kosovo extend Serbia a courtesy that it does not reciprocate? The tariffs are not the issue. They are merely an excuse to refuse to come and sit with us at the table in Brussels. At the end of the day, the real economic effect ofthe tariffs on Serbia is minimal. Serbia exports weapons all around the world, even to countries that are under a European Union or a United States embargo, and it sells biscuits to Kosovo. Only 3 per cent of Serbia's exports are to Kosovo. There is no humanitarian crisis of any kind in Kosovo. I ask Council members to come and visit Kosovo, and they will witness the unquestionable reality with their own eyes.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“It is a paradigm shift of no small proportion for us to transform from consumers of to contributors to security. Serbia is now imposing conditions on the continuation of the dialogue with the removal of tariffs. The decision of our Government to impose tariffs on Serbian goods was not a decision we took lightly. However, the question at hand should be why that decision was made in the first place. The tariffs were a direct response to the aggressive and brutal campaign of the Serbian Government against Kosovo. One cannot use one's hand to fight for its existence, with everything they have at their disposal, and extend the other one with the pretence of being earnest about normalizing relations with Kosovo. In addition, political arguments aside, that decision was also based on economic factors.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“However, if it thinks that it can make giving up our right to exist as a sovereign State a condition for dialogue with us, it is in for a fast-approaching awakening. Kosovo is not going to freeze its existence until Serbia has an epiphany and decides it is time to accept Kosovo as an equal. First, less than two months ago, we were summoned to the Chamber for an extraordinary meeting to urgently address the most natural and ordinary decision that our institutions undertook when we established our army (see S/PV.8427). The decision to establish an army was a legal, constitutional and prudent obligation to create the requisite security mechanisms that will enable Kosovo to contribute and be part of regional and Euro-Atlantic security alliances. Furthermore, it was a decision that demonstrated the maturity of Kosovo as a State.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“That is why it creates unnecessary drama everywhere it can about anything that makes it view us as its equal. It is pervasive. We see it everywhere. We see it in sports and arts and politics. There is a stubborn refusal to accept us as peers. But, frankly speaking, that is Serbia's problem. What I cannot understand is why we have to meet here so often and entertain its ideas about a parallel universe that it chooses to live in. It is up to the members of this important Council to stop enabling this parody. Always, every single day, Serbia continues to create artificial drama in order to avoid accepting reality. We have gotten rather used to it. It is hard for Serbia to surprise us with its absurdity anymore.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“In fact, the Charade that is being put on in this Chamber is yet more proof that Serbia is not genuine in its articulated intent to engage in dialogue with Kosovo about the normalization of relations between our two countries. The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia was not, is not and will never be about Kosovo's right to exist as a free nation under the sun. Let us not distort the facts. A new and young republic was born in Europe 11 years ago this month And Kosovo will not ever negotiate its statehood or its independence - not today, not tomorrow, never. We want, and are prepared, to talk about building constructive relations as neighbours, as equals. However, that is exactly where the problem lies. Serbia is inherently opposed to the idea that Kosovo is its equal.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“It is unbelievable that the Council has convened more meetings to talk about Kosovo than it has for Syria, Yemen or Venezuela. There are real problems out there, real challenges that require the Council's valuable time and attention. There are real people who need the Council's help, as we in Kosovo once did. It is unacceptable that this Chamber is being turned into a theatre by our northern neighbour, that this esteemed forum has become a stage for Serbia to tell its fairy tales to the world, fictional stories that they do not even believe themselves. It is shameful, yet again, that this Chamber is being misused purely for domestic consumption. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo has no role and has no mandate to exercise. These meetings have lost their purpose.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“It was precisely United Nations Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari who recommended independence as the ultimate solution for Kosovo. And it was upon Serbia's request that the International Court of Justice ruled clearly and without any ambiguity that Kosovo was within its rights when it declared independence and that it did not break or violate any international law. I do not have to remind the Council that the ruling of the court was accepted by the General Assembly, which recommended the launch of a dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. With those facts in mind, I address the Council with the absolute candour and correctness that this forum implies and say that I can seriously not understand why on Earth we are here today talking about Kosovo for the third time in four months.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“We experienced years of being silenced by the deafening noise of Serbian guns, years of tremendous suffering that came to an end only when Council members' predecessors, sitting around this very table two decades ago, gave a voice to me and my people. As we mark the twentieth anniversary of the liberation of Kosovo, we also celebrate the role of the United Nations in Kosovo. When 1 million refugees were returning back to their homes, United Nations agencies were there, in Kosovo, waiting for them, readily offering their support. Our country has risen from the ashes of war, and it was the United Nations Administration that lifted us up. Throughout the many years of the United Nations Administration in Kosovo, the Council has provided guidance and facilitated a healthy debate about Kosovo and its future.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“Ms. Citaku: As always, I am honoured to be here with members of the Security Council today, and it is precisely because I truly respect and value the Council that I cannot quite comprehend why it is that we are actually here today. Kosovo is certainly not a novel topic for the Council. For many people around the world, it was the war of the late 1990s that put Kosovo on the map. However, the war itself was not just an isolated formative experience for my people; it was predicated on years of oppression, segregation and exploitation, years when we were denied our most fundamental rights. We did not have the right to read or write in our own language in schools, or to sing songs out on our streets.”
2019-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8459 (2019) · source
“We know that those ideals are not easy to achieve, but they are nonetheless worth striving for. However daunting the odds may be and however big the challenges may seem, everyone can rest assured that Kosovo will never give up. We are a young republic, one that is far from perfect, but also one that will not stop striving to become better for all its citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Because that is how we keep our promise to our children. That is the Kosovo we are fighting for.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“The lessons of war still speak to us, reminding us that progress must never be taken for granted. Kosovo has borne witness to the worst of humankind. We live in the absence of justice for the dead, the wounded, the raped and the missing. Remorse cannot do justice to such suffering. We believe that every act of aggression, terror, cruelty and oppression must have repercussions, for hatred shall never prevail. As Kosovars, we have a responsibility to do better. We are determined to honour the lives that might have been by ensuring that their sacrifice was not made in vain. Their memory has fuelled our transformation and empowered our sense of purpose. They have inspired our collective commitment to realizing the dreams of the fallen and our persistent efforts to pursue a future of enduring peace and prosperity.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“We are reminded of that by brave women like Vasfije Krasniqi. Vasfije was only 16 years old when she was taken from the arms of her mother by Serbian military forces in the spring of 1999. She was raped. They did not kill her because, as she herself has testified, they explicitly told her "you will all suffer more if we keep you alive". Little did they know that Vasfij e would grow up to become an incredible woman, a mother of two beautiful daughters, and nearly two decades later she would return home stronger and braver than ever to teach all ofus a lesson aboutjustice. That lesson is about the justice that was once denied to her. It is a lesson of perseverance - about never giving up. Despite the best efforts to make Vasfije a victim, she is not one. She is a hero. And heroes like her define my country.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“An agreement between States can be meaningful and sustainable only if it is an agreement between people that brings about more secure peace and better living standards for those involved - not if it triggers the opposite outcome. Our northern neighbours may have their doubts. However, we in Kosovo know exactly where we stand, where we are headed and where we belong - in Europe. We are reminded of that every day by our brave and courageous journalists who work fiercely to hold our politicians to account. We are constantly reminded of that by our athletes, men and in particular, women, who defy the odds and bring gold medals back home. We are reminded of that by our vibrant youth who excel in science and technology, explore new frontiers and experiment with cutting-edge innovations to find answers to the questions of the future.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Another case in point is the Kosovar artists and scholars who are banned from entering Serbia in the first place, even though the purpose of their travel to Belgrade is to promote peace and dialogue. Such issues transcend politics. However, they are exceptionally more hurtful when the State is complicit. An innocent infant was about to die in the sky in September because Serbian authorities refused to grant a simple request by an international aircraft operator. We can agree or disagree on various and numerous counts, but we cannot and will not discuss placing a price tag on human life. There are no circumstances that can justify that horrendous notion becoming the subject of negotiation. In fact, it is shameful that a European Union candidate country is utilizing such despicable tools to make a political point.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Just two months ago, an 18-year-old boy from Kosovo was beaten and hospitalized in Serbia because someone on the streets of Serbia heard him speak the Albanian language on the phone. Thankfully, that time he survived. Not long ago, an infant - a baby - was about to die because Serbian air traffic control refused to grant a permit for the use ofits airspace to a plane that was due to land in Pristina. Indulge me for a moment and think about this - Serbian air traffic control officials refused to grant a permit for the use of airspace to a plane because it was headed for Pristina, even when it could have saved a baby's life. That behaviour is beyond comprehension. In another instance, dozens of buses carrying Kosovo Albanians were attacked with stones as they passed through Serbia because Kosovo was their destination.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“As such, the dialogue will have meaning and produce results only if we decide to speak in earnest with our own domestic audiences about the process in Brussels. Beyond the agreements and papers signed, it is essential that our neighbours begin to treat us as human beings, equal in every dimension and endowed with the same inalienable rights and freedoms. Dialogue is very important, but we in Pristina are the ones who decide. We - not people in Belgrade - decide who represents us. We are proud that we represent the generation that fought Slobodan Milosevic. Fatmir Limaj was acquitted twice by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, at The Hague. And we in Kosovo can look back very calmly at our own past and not be ashamed of it.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“As such, Kosovo's imposition ofa 10 per cent tariff on Serbian products was unavoidable. It is both an economically and a politically sensible measure. Our Minister for Trade and Industry has sent dozens of letters to his counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia, letters that were never answered. That of course brings us back to the necessity of dialogue with Serbia. We all agree that dialogue is the only path forward for our two countries. Nonetheless, it is crucial for us to also agree on what that dialogue is, and what it will never be about. That dialogue is not about debating Kosovo's right to exist as a free nation under the sun; rather, it is principally and exclusively about peace, reconciliation and mutual recognition.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“While we are on the topic of the dialogue, I feel it is necessary for me to reiterate, on behalf of the Government of Kosovo, that our country remains committed to fulfilling all the arrangements previously agreed to in Brussels with Serbia. However, as the expression goes, it takes two to tango, and Serbia is not holding up its end of the bargain. It has consistently failed to deliver on almost everything that we have agreed upon, from its disregard for the energy agreement, which is costing Kosovo millions on an annual basis, to its unwillingness to recognize Kosovar diplomats, and many other matters that are hindering normal interactions for citizens in both our countries. Furthermore, Serbia has been in violent breach of the Central European Free Trade Agreement with Kosovo, dumping its products in order to destabilize our markets.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“The Serbian State and its proxies have left no stone unturned in their endeavour to stop the process of the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force. But let me be clear: no State other than Kosovo, no other citizens than those of Kosovo, have veto power over the establishment of our armed forces. The issue is a matter of sovereign decision, one which Kosovo shall conclude soon. And again, allow me to be completely candid: the matter is not something on which we will ever have a dialogue with Serbia. Also, as the Council is well aware, the decision is in no way a violation of resolution 1244 (1999).”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“We are actually transforming the mandate of our existing security forces in order to make them compatible to contribute to regional and global security to the full extent of their potential. Our soldiers and officers have excelled in every single international competition that they have participated in, proving that they are ready to give back. Moreover, we are proud to have the second most diverse security force relative to all NATO members. In Kosovo we perceive our diversity as a source of strength. It is an attribute that we cherish and want to preserve. Hence it is a matter of concern to see Serbian members of the Kosovo Security Force be subjected to intense campaigns of intimidation, which are not limited to the members themselves but affect their families as well.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“In this day and age, it is irresponsible to pretend that our nations are not deeply affected by what happens beyond our borders. We should view our growing interconnectedness as a reason to increase cooperation. The fact of the matter is that those who obstruct Kosovo's membership in INTERPOL are implicitly aiding organized crime. It is evident that the only parties who stand to benefit from keeping Kosovo out of INTERPOL are criminals, drug cartels and terrorists. The question that must be asked is: do we really want to be on that list? The same principle applies to the establishment of Kosovo's armed forces. First and foremost, I must emphasize that Kosovo has not engaged in building an army with the intention of threatening to fight or invade any land. That is not something we do.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“The Kosovo Police Force - and here the United Nations should take pride because it helped us to establish it, 19 years ago - meets all the conceivable criteria for a credible partner in the fight against transnational crime. It has already helped foil international terrorist plots and curtail violent extremist groups. It has also signed over 80 bilateral agreements of cooperation with counterpart law enforcement agencies around the world. However, in order to become a proper contributor to regional and global security, Kosovo must become a member of INTERPOL. That is what membership is about. Frankly speaking, I do not know how on Earth such an outcome would be a loss for our neighbour. I really do not know. The matter is not a zero-sum game; it is quite the opposite, actually.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Our Government must do much more to provide higher quality education, better welfare and more opportunities for its people. It must also go the extra mile in combating corruption, nepotism and other negative phenomena that plague our young republic. However, while some battles are ours to fight internally, we will be able to meet other challenges only if we are completely integrated into the global community. Kosovo cannot be expected to effectively battle transnational crime ifit is not part of INTERPOL. Kosovo cannot, and should not, be a black hole in the middle of the European continent. We are prepared and willing to help make not only Kosovo, but our entire region and Europe at large, safer for its inhabitants.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“They will not change now or ever. Kosovo is independent, and it is here to stay, now and forever. These meetings do not help peace. These meetings do not help dialogue. Unfortunately, this Chamber is being misused. It is being turned into a theatre, a platform to fuel our own domestic audiences. It is being used and misused for our own domestic audiences, and we should not allow that. Kosovo has undergone a process of painful growth through which it has come to realize that independence is not sufficient in and of itself. While we rejoice and take immense pride in the individual accomplishments of our champions in sports, the arts and science, our institutions have a long way to go in order to meet the rightful expectations of the Kosovar people.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“I urge members of the Council to go back and read it again. Read it and the Council will be baffled to find that it refers to an alternate reality, a world that ceased to exist a long time ago. Kosovars as a people have been on the receiving end of the United Nations helping hand. We believe that the Organization's resources can be put to much better use in offering solutions to more troubling problems and crises around the world. As far as Kosovo is concerned, I implore the Council to consult the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which, I might add, was written upon the request of none other than Serbia itself. The ruling is precise and unambiguous. It states that Kosovo did not break any international laws when it declared its independence one decade ago. Those facts and realities are indisputable and irreversible.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“On behalfofthe people ofKosovo, I also want to humbly express our gratitude to each and every delegation sitting around this table for everything they have done for the people of Kosovo. Dozens of statements and resolutions adopted in this Chamber have made Kosovo a better place, and the Council was our voice in our darkest hour of need. However, we need to acknowledge that the world has since changed. Kosovo has changed. It is no longer 1999; it is 2018. Kosovo has moved on and it is long overdue for the Council to do the same on the matter of Kosovo. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is not a peacekeeping mission anymore, and it is certainly not an administrative mission. The most instructive illustration of the point that I am trying to make and convey is resolution 1244 (1999) itself.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“We are relentless and resolute in repelling every desperate attempt by our northern neighbour to undo our accomplishments. And should they try, they will undoubtedly fail. Kosovo is its own entity and the President of Kosovo has the legitimate right to visit any part of Kosovo without asking for permission from anyone. There was no incident on the day President Thaci visited Lake Ujman. As the Kosovo Force confirmed, the incident unfortunately occurred the day after, when the Serbian bar owner who offered coffees to the President and his team was attacked with a bomb by Serbian parallel structures from the north. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Caribbean countries that have reconfirmed their recognition of Kosovo's independence and sovereignty.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Instead of using the visit to send messages of peace, the Serbian President praised Milosevic - the person in charge of instigating the most terrible tragedies in Europe since the World Wars. Yet we Kosovars refuse to be defined by our painful past alone. Instead, we choose to identify ourselves with our capacity to build a better future. We are not yesterday's victims; we are today's champions. We are the nation of Majlinda Kelmendi, Distria Krasniqi and all of the young women who have elevated Kosovo to the highest pedestals of the Olympics by relying solely on their own abilities. We are a nation of youngsters who refuse to accept failure, who, when given the chance to perform, raise the bar for everyone else. We are a young republic that has been recognized by the majority of the free nations of the world.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“The wounds of war cannot be healed easily, especially when the aggressor - the Serbian State - continues to refuse to take responsibility for its actions. Does anyone believe that peace in Europe would have been possible if the perpetrators of the First and Second World Wars had not been held accountable for what transpired? Can anyone seriously contend that it would have been possible for the world to move on if the instigators of those wars had insisted on moral parity? There was no moral parity in the First World War, or in the Second. There is no moral parity in the Kosovo war either. There is an oppressor and the oppressed, and we are all acutely aware of who the oppressor is. Unfortunately, the President of Serbian only recently visited Kosovo.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“While the nations of the Western Balkans were occasional protagonists of that conflict, more often than not we were a battleground - a stage where ideals clashed, nations brawled, lives were cut short and dreams were gutted. Following the Second World War, a most unfortunate course of events would lead our region and my dear country, Kosovo, to become the arena of the last war on the European continent. That is a war that I remember all too well. I was among the 1 million Kosovar-Albanians who were displaced and forced out of our homes as part of the ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by the Serbian military forces. One million refugees were scattered, twenty thousand women raped and tens of thousands killed. Many are still missing.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Ms. Citaku: It is a great honour to be here in the Chamber today to represent the youngest democracy in South-Eastern Europe. We are gathered here only days after we all commemorated the centennial of the end of the First World War. As the stories of the few remaining witnesses to that dark chapter of human history recently reminded us, a steep price has been paid for freedom and peace in our old continent. The aftermath of the Great War also reminds us that peace is not sustainable unless it is complemented by justice. It is no coincidence that, before the dust of that terrible war had settled, our continent was hit yet again by a peril of unprecedented proportions in the form of the Second World War, causing a staggering loss of human life.”
2018-11-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8399 (2018) · source
“Kosovo's independence is the product of the non-consensual dissolution of Yugoslavia - a union that no longer exists. I urge whoever has any doubts about the legality of Kosovo's independence to read the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (sec A/64/881). The opinion was clear and unambiguous. It is true that Kosovo is a very young State, but we are also a very old nation. We can point to any given date in history. We have always existed. We are Europeans and we are proud ofthe friendships and alliances that we have with all members. I hope that Kosovo will soon establish diplomatic relations also with Serbia. The meeting rose at 12.45 p.m.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Ms. Citaku: I will try to be very brief. First, many members of the Security Council raised the issue of the murder of Mr. Oliver Ivanovie. On behalf of the Kosovo Government, I want to reiterate that we will leave no stone unturned until we find the perpetrators of that terrible crime. Mr. Ivanovic' was a citizen of Kosovo. He was among the few local Serbian leaders who spoke openly about Pristina as the capital of the Serbs living in Kosovo. He spoke openly against intimidation and the threat to which local Serbs were subjected by the authorities in Belgrade. We ask for the cooperation of all the parties. I hope that I will soon come to the Council with results. Secondly, I need to reiterate that Kosovo's independence is not the product of a secessionist movement.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“She proudly walks the mountain peaks with tourists coming from Spain to China and elsewhere in the world, thereby breaking the boundaries set by politics. Arineta resolved that her trail of escape would become a trail of hope for a better life and a better tomorrow - a hope that every single Kosovar carries in their heart.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Arineta Mula's first hike was a long, steep trail over the accursed mountains as her mother and her three siblings fled for their lives in the spring of 1999 during Serbia's brutal war. She was only seven years old when she became a refugee. but the gripping fear that the Serbian forces would take her brother forced her to keep her feet planted firmly on the slippery and steep terrain. Sounds of artillery and blood stains accompanied her terrifying journey to safety. But Arineta decided to make something remarkably beautiful of that experience. She reckoned that Kosovo was too precious and our nature too beautiful to only be remembered and associated with the pains and horrors of war. Today Arineta is the first woman guide in Kosovo.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Let me also stress that it is misleading to characterize Kosovo's independence as a defeat for Serbia. Serbia has lost nothing, because Kosovo was never Serbian. Kosovo's independence has been scaled by our people's will, sacrifice and determination. Allow me also to reiterate that we believe that the time has come for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to close. We also believe that the resources of the United Nations can be put to much better use. The Security Council can choose to maintain an expensive mission in Kosovo. However, the truth is that there is no role for it. As I stated at the very beginning ofmy presentation, the people of Kosovo want to move on. They want closure. As we failed to deliver that, some of them have moved on and found peace on their own. They have risen above the painful past.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Unfortunately, owing to the intensive and extraordinary pressure exercised by the Government in Belgrade, there is a reluctance from the local Serbian population to participate in the process. What Belgrade wants is very clear. They want a territorial solution. On the other hand, we in Pristina want civil solutions. We do not believe that the creation of boundaries based on ethnic lines will contribute to peace and stability. Kosovo is a republic that belongs to all its citizens. While we hear numbers floated in the Chamber, let me remind the Council that only in the last elections, approximately 100,000 Serbs participated and voted. Listing Kosovo's recognition as one of the top threats to Serbia's national security is delusional and harmful to Serbia itself. Kosovo is free and independent, and that will never, ever change.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Following the incident, Mr. Durie visited Kosovo. Nothing happened, because he obtained the necessary permission and followed the procedures. Kosovo is committed to normalizing relations with Serbia. We are committed to dialogue, the promotion of good neighbourly relations and the strengthening of peace and stability in the Western Balkans region. In just two days, our leaders will sit together as equals at the Western Balkans-EU summit. Now more than ever, it is crystal clear that the EU will not allow ambiguity to prevail in the region. Serbia must therefore ultimately recognize Kosovo's independence. Ultimately, it was at Serbia's request that the International Court of Justice ruled unambiguously on Kosovo's independence. Kosovo's institutions launched a working group for the establishment of the association of Serbian municipalities.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“However, that particular violation was not an isolated act. Similar tactics flouting pre-established procedure and defiant of the authority of the Kosovo institutions have been employed by Serbian authorities on various occasions. I must therefore reiterate that Kosovo does not tolerate provocation and is committed to refraining from provocation itself. Serbian officials must understand that Kosovo can be entered only with the permission of Kosovo authorities. Should they fail to obtain such permission and nevertheless enter our country, Kosovo's institutions will respond by following procedure, in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws. What would happen if, I or any Kosovar Government official, tried to enter Serbia without permission? Serbian Government officials, when they comply with procedure, visit frequently.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Over the course of the past month, a number of Serbian Government officials have taken a series of intentional actions that violate the agreement between our two countries, which regulates the visits of officials and establishes procedures for such occasions. That campaign culminated with a public event hosted in Kosovo and attended by Marko Durie. That was a clear violation, which was preceded by and followed by distinctly inflammatory rhetoric documented by public statements contrary to the spirit of normalization, dialogue, integration, peace and stability. As events unfolded, Kosovo police acted with professionalism throughout the entire process. Duric's detention and subsequent arrest are standard procedure for law enforcement agencies. They are an inevitable outcome in response to any instance of such actions.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Our Government is focused on, and committed to, the full implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement and European Union (EU)-related reforms guided by the European reform agenda. Kosovo's Parliament has now voted on the border demarcation agreement with Montenegro, thereby fulfilling the last remaining condition for visa-free travel within the Schengen Zone. While it was unfortunate to see that Serbian members of Kosovo's Parliament, under the constant threats and pressure from Belgrade, declined to vote in favour of the agreement, this is just another demonstration of Belgrade's manipulation of Kosovo Serbs. Serbs in Kosovo should be allowed to make their own choices, without threats from, or fear of, Belgrade.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Our athletes are not the only ones to be turned away by the Serbian Government. A group of members of Kosovo's Parliament was recently banned from attending a regional conference in Belgrade - on Europe Day, of all days. The conference was supposed to foster regional cooperation and European integration. The commitment of the Government of Kosovo to developing democratic, inclusive and effective governance that will serve the people of Kosovo without discrimination begins with the strong rule of law. Our institutions are committed to the rule of law. They are addressing the matter with a concrete approach, through the enforcement and implementation of the rule of law, accountability, effective institutional responsiveness and transparency.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“With complete confidence, I can add that sports was the sole motivation for our kids when they travelled to the border - they had no political aim whatsoever. When we are given the chance to be present, to participate, to play and to compete, Kosovo excels, thanks to our athletes, artists and activists alike, who shine brightly and showcase our core values. Such is the case with Feride Rushiti, who joined the ranks of 10 extraordinary women from around the world to be decorated with the International Women of Courage Award this year. Dr. Rushiti is the founder and Executive Director of the Kosova Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims. Through almost two decades of research and advocacy, Dr. Rushiti has secured access to health care andjustice for the civilian victims of the Kosovo war.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Instead, they sent their best wishes to all other athletes who went on to compete. That is not an isolated incident. It is part ofa pattern of obstructionism exemplified by a statement made on 23 March by the Serbian Minister of the Interior, in which he indicated that he did not want to see clashes between fans and police over things they do not believe in and are contrary to their interests. Unfortunately, it seems that with its decisions the Government of Serbia is supporting only the violent and destructive part of Serbian society, at the expense of those who value peace, support dialogue and cooperation and want to work, play and compete together. As stated jointly by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Kosovo and Serbia, it is violence that should be stopped, not sports.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Nevertheless, their aspirations are steadily quashed by a Belgrade that disrupts on all possible levels, as they do on most issues. Just the other day, the Serbian Government banned a Kosovo karate team from entering Serbia, thereby preventing our kids from taking part in the European Karate Championships being held in Novi Sad. Kids were banned. The Council knows how much effort Kosovo made to become a member of all sports federations, and how much joy it brings to our nation to see our sportswomen and men playing and competing on behalf of their country. Nonetheless, even today, we still have to face all sorts of arbitrary barriers being put up by Serbia. However, in the spirit of true sportsmanship, young Kosovar athletes did not turn to anger or hatred, even during one of the most difficult and heartbreaking moments for them.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Surely, it says a lot about a commitment to the falsification of the facts when attempts are made to carve dictators in the stone. In this toxic environment, the infringement of free speech by the State feels very normal, as do the systematic threats to Kosovo Serbs who want to join the Kosovo Security Force or the Kosovo police. Several local Serbs from Kosovo were arrested in Serbia because they joined the Kosovo Security Force. Let me be very clear on this matter: Serbia does not have a veto on the establishment of the Kosovo armed forces. That is a decision to be made only by the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo. With regard to the Serbs of Kosovo, it is evident that those people just want to live better lives and be integrated into their country.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“By turning a blind eye to those crimes we are creating the space for convicted war criminals to not only be represented, but to also abuse the public platform, and that has been happening in our neighbourhood. This is not a matter of my personal opinion, it is a concern raised by the EU Human Rights Commissioner, who said that "In recent years, war criminals from Serbia have been promoted as heroes and role models by Serbian Government officials, political parties and the media [and] this is unacceptable for an EU candidate country". No wonder we see initiatives for the erection of monuments to a dictator like Slobodan Milosevic. I ask the Council, what does this say about the identity of a society, let alone about the normalization of relations with its neighbours?”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The States Members of the United Nations, our dear friends, should recognize the truth. This year Kosovo was omitted from the report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (S/2018/250). International humanitarian organizations and local non-governmental organizations have collected an estimated 20,000 accounts of systematic rape and torture perpetrated by Serbian forces during the war in Kosovo. Despite the existence of substantial evidence, no perpetrators of those crimes have ever been brought to justice. Kosovo's experience with the survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and its efforts to address that issue are a valuable example to the global community. Beyond politics, we are speaking about basic human rights, which are expected to be respected universally and unconditionally.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source