Konjufca: Serbia Remains the Main Threat to Kosovo and Regional Stability

Glauk Konjufca, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, stated that the Republic of Serbia is the main source of danger to Kosovo and security in the Balkans.

Speaking at the ninth Conference of Kosovo Ambassadors, Konjufca stressed that Belgrade’s strong ties with Moscow, its unwillingness to impose sanctions on Russia, and its growing military cooperation with Beijing pose a serious challenge to regional peace.

Addressing Serbia’s official rhetoric, he expressed concern over statements by Minister Snezhana Paunoviq, who said that, had she been in Slobodan Milosevic’s position, she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. According to Konjufca, the European Union’s lenient stance toward such statements has strengthened Serbia’s resolve to keep its ambitions for dominance alive.

The acting foreign minister stressed that having a neighbor such as Serbia, which continues to maintain close relations with the Russian Federation and deepen its military ties with China, goes beyond merely taking a dual stance on the global stage. This alignment, he added, together with its unchanged hostile rhetoric toward the Republic of Kosovo, clearly shows that Serbia is a destabilizing factor for the continent.

Continuing his address, Konjufca highlighted Kosovo’s unwavering commitment to the Euro-Atlantic alliance, citing the institutions’ clear stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and their support for every punitive measure imposed by the West against Moscow.

He linked this orientation to Kosovo’s membership in the Board of Peace and the participation of the Kosovo Security Force in the peacekeeping mission in Gaza, describing these steps as concrete evidence of partnership with and loyalty to the United States of America.

Konjufca recalled that the turbulent recent years have shown that Kosovo, as a sovereign state, has unequivocally supported the defense of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and has stood alongside its strategic ally, the United States, in efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

In the final part of his speech, the acting minister spoke about his work during his months at the helm of Kosovo’s diplomacy, emphasizing efforts to secure new recognitions for Kosovo. He confirmed that particular attention has been given to countries that have not yet recognized its independence, with contacts and meetings intensified with countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. According to him, the approach is structured: where recognition is lacking, communication is increased; where there is communication, trust is built; and where there is trust, opportunities for new diplomatic achievements emerge.