Djuric: UNMIK presence in Kosovo-Metohija must not be weakened, but strengthened

NEW YORK - Addressing a UN Security Council session on the work of UNMIK, the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday its presence continued to serve as a key guarantee of peace, stability and protection of the fundamental human rights of Serbs living in the province, and added that UNMIK's presence and role must not be weakened, but strengthened.

"In a time when calls are being made to reduce UNMIK's budget and alter its mandate, the Republic of Serbia sends a clear and unequivocal message: the presence and role of this mission should not be weakened, it should be strengthened. Let me be absolutely clear. In the current circumstances, UNMIK is not only relevant, it is indispensable. Its mandate, grounded in Resolution 1244, has not been fully implemented. This is not a technical matter. It is a matter that directly affects the safety, rights, and daily lives of people on the ground," Djuric said at the session, at which the UN secretary general's regular semi-annual report on UNMIK is being debated.

"The Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to supporting such a role. Any discussions about its future must be guided strictly by realities on the ground, not by assumptions that may not correspond to the lived experience of communities. In a time of growing global uncertainty and multiple crises across different regions, it is

particularly important that the Security Council remain anchored in facts, in law, and in a clear understanding of developments on the ground. In that context, UNMIK continues to play a stabilising role, not only through reporting but also through its very presence. Its mandate under Resolution 1244 remains essential for ensuring impartial oversight, especially as unilateral actions risk undermining the frail balance achieved over the years," Djuric said.

"Distinguished colleagues, today I address you not only as a representative of the Republic of Serbia, but also as a voice for those who live their lives under fear, insecurity, in constant pressure. In Kosovo-Metohija, the oppression of a community does not happen overnight. It unfolds in recognisable stages, and these stages can unfortunately be clearly observed in the position of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija today. I stand before you today not to win an argument but to contribute to solving a problem.

And let me say this clearly from the outset. Serbia is not a part of the problem. We are a part of the solution. I also speak as a voice for those who feel intimidated, for the mothers and daughters of those wrongly detained, and for those who are labeled marginalised and pressured simply for who they are. What we are witnessing is not a series of isolated developments. It reflects a broader and deeply concerning pattern. And this is a question of principle. In many ways, this pattern carries troubling similarities to dynamics that preceded serious conflict in the past.

These circumstances are not incidental or identical, but the trajectory should not be ignored. When rights are gradually eroded, when pressure becomes normalised, instability does not appear suddenly. It builds step by step, decision by decision. As Martin Luther King Jr reminded us, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

This is why what we are discussing today is not only a national or regional issue. It is a matter that speaks directly to the capability of international norms, to the protection of human rights, and to the responsibility we all share in preventing instability before it escalates. The international community has invested decades in building mechanisms to protect minorities and uphold the rule of law in post-conflict settings. Allowing these mechanisms to be bypassed sets a dangerous precedent far beyond the Western Balkans," Djuric also said.

Djuric: Pristina carrying out accelerated militarisation in Kosovo-Metohija

NEW YORK - Serbian FM Marko Djuric warned in the UN Security Council on Thursday Pristina was carrying out an accelerated militarisation process in Kosovo-Metohija that could not be viewed as neutral.

"We are witnessing an accelerated process of militarisation in Kosovo-Metohija. The strengthening of the so-called Kosovo security forces, accompanied by the acquisition of modern weapons, cannot be viewed as a neutral process, especially in this context of stagnating dialogue. It alters the security balance, increases uncertainty and raises the risk of escalation," Djuric said at a UNSC session on the UN secretary general's regular semi-annual report on the work of UNMIK - the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija.

"Such developments, especially when conducted without transparency and without full respect for international obligations, undermine efforts to maintain stability and call into question the credibility of existing security mechanisms. Let me therefore be clear. KFOR must remain the sole legitimate and credible security presence on the ground, fully in line with its mandate. In a time of growing global uncertainty and transformation of the international order, the frail stability in Kosovo-Metohija must not be put at risk. Combined with non-transparent cooperation with certain actors in the region, these developments raise serious concerns," Djuric said.

He also noted that, in addition to difficult security and living conditions, Serbia must express particular concern regarding continued targeting of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in the province.

"The desecration of religious sites, Christian cemeteries is not merely vandalism. It is a direct attack on identity, dignity and fundamental human rights. Allow me to draw your attention to just one of many incidents to of a bus transporting Christian Serbian pilgrims in southern Kosovska Mitrovica in September 2025.

This was not a random act. It was a targeted attack on individuals exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of religion. When such incidents are not adequately reflected, we risk losing a full and accurate understanding of the situation on the ground. Protecting these rights is essential for reconciliation and confidence-building," Djuric noted.