On Tuesday, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Glauk Konjufca represented Kosovo at the United Nations (UN) Security Council. At the meeting, he presented Kosovo’s positions on political and security developments, war crimes and the UNMIK report.
Analyst Gani Qarri, speaking to “Bota sot,” praised Konjufca’s dignified performance and said he conveyed messages about Serbia’s responsibility, victims’ rights and Kosovo’s aim to become a member of the UN.
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“In my view, at the latest UN meeting, Kosovo was represented with dignity by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mr. Glauk Konjufca. He reminded the civilized world of the state-sponsored genocide and hundreds of massacres committed by Serbia during the war against defenseless Albanians in Kosovo. At the same time, he presented the country’s constructive positions on current political and security developments, spoke about the progress achieved and the challenges Kosovo faces, including as a result of Serbia’s overt actions against it.
Mr. Konjufca’s appearance at the UN was successful and substantive. He delivered strong messages supported by arguments and documented evidence, reminding participating countries of the killing of more than 12,000 innocent civilians and the disappearance of 1,577 people, including 109 children. Their bodies have not been found, and even today nothing is known about their whereabouts,” Qarri said.
Qarri also mentioned the demand to bring those responsible for the terrorist attack in Banjska to justice, including Milan Radoičić and Serbia.
He also spoke about rejecting the UNMIK report on Kosovo, which he described as influenced by Serbian propaganda, and about the call for Kosovo to join the UN.
“I believe that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Konjufca represented Kosovo honorably. He rightly and reasonably called for those responsible for the terrorist attack against the country to be held accountable, including the chief terrorist Milan Radoičić, who continues to live freely in Serbia, as well as their sponsor, hegemonic Serbia. They attempted a classic invasion of Kosovo’s territory and killed the police officer on duty, now the hero Mr. Afrim Bunjaku.
Mr. Konjufca rejected the UNMIK report on Kosovo and called it unacceptable, saying it had been influenced by Serbian propaganda. He also called for the Republic of Kosovo to be recognized as an independent state and admitted as a full member of the global family of nations at the UN,” he stressed.
According to Qarri, the messages delivered at the meeting should be followed by concrete international action, particularly pressure on Serbia. He called for the return of the remains of Albanians who were killed and abducted, and for Kosovo’s independence to be recognized.
“The arguments Mr. Konjufca presented to the international community should have been enough for the UN to take urgent measures immediately after the Security Council meeting and exert direct pressure on Serbia. This should have forced it to change its approach toward Kosovo, return the remains of Albanians who were killed and abducted, and recognize the independent state of Kosovo. That would ensure political stability in the region and lasting peace in the Western Balkans and beyond.
Serbia is not solely responsible for Kosovo’s stagnation on the international stage. Party conflicts, institutional blockades and political deadlocks have also played a role, actively pursued by a compromised opposition that left the country without legitimate institutions or stable governance for nearly two years. Kosovo failed to take advantage of the opportunities that arose, particularly after Russia’s occupation of Ukraine began and amid the mass student protests that have been taking place in Serbia for more than two years. These developments could have helped Kosovo defeat Serbia in foreign policy and on the international stage as well,” he added.
Qarri also commented on relations between Serbia and the European Union. In his view, Belgrade’s opposition to sanctions against Russia and domestic political developments have hindered Serbia’s progress toward EU membership.
“Serbia has also openly opposed the EU itself. First, it refused to join the sanctions the Union imposed on Russia, then granted citizenship to Russian oligarchs sanctioned by Ukraine and the United States. EU representatives view these actions as an open threat of illegal migration into the Union and as an ongoing risk to its security. Later, the deterioration of the rule of law in Serbia made the situation worse. These actions have left Serbia—which was once among the leading countries in the European integration process and opened the final chapter in December 2021—stalled in accession negotiations for nearly five years.
The protests that have continued without interruption in Serbia for nearly two years could put Vučić in opposition for the first time after so many years in power. That may not happen if Russia once again helps him with its destructive methods, which could also determine the winner of Serbia’s October 25 election,” Qarri said.
He went on to criticize opposition parties for blocking institutions and failing to cooperate with the government. According to the analyst, better political coordination would help strengthen Kosovo’s statehood and advance its Euro-Atlantic integration.
“International developments offered Kosovo major opportunities over more than five years to successfully counter Serbia and those who do not wish the country well. But opposition parties obstructed every initiative and positive process instead of taking a more forward-looking, united and constructive approach. Cooperation with the legitimate government through joint, coordinated action would serve Kosovo, strengthen state-building, and advance EU integration and NATO membership.
Had there been unified cooperation in domestic politics and positive examples in practice, I believe UN member states would also have taken a more favorable position toward Kosovo. New recognitions and membership in the most important international organizations could have followed, culminating in the accelerated and successful admission of our country to the UN—the greatest goal of our people and our new state, the independent Republic of Kosovo.
Nevertheless, some destructive elements are choosing division over cooperation between parties and coordination among Albanians for Kosovo’s benefit. Just days after the Law on the Specialist Chambers was passed and the President was elected by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers, they are once again calling for the same law to be returned to the Assembly and threatening unrest to bring down the Kosovo government. People who lived for years in brotherly coexistence with the parallel Serbian municipality in their own ‘cauldrons’ unfortunately want to see Kosovo once again engulfed in war and flames. This raises fears that further surprises may come from Serbia’s long arms, which are proven to remain active in Kosovo and could attack the country’s security, social peace, development and future at any moment,” Qarri concluded to “Bota sot.”
