Serbia’s President Defends Claim Over Kosovo at UN General Assembly
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić used his address at the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm Belgrade’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence, describing the territory as an “inseparable part of Serbia” and “the cornerstone of Serbia’s identity, culture, and spiritual heritage.”
“For us, Serbs, it is not just a piece of land, but the cradle of our soul and our existence on this earth,” Vučić declared, invoking historical and cultural symbolism in defense of his country’s longstanding position.
Claims of Discrimination Against Serbs in Kosovo
Vučić painted a grim picture of the living conditions for Kosovo Serbs, claiming that they are being denied basic human rights, including freedom of movement, access to education, healthcare, jobs, and property. “They live in dramatic conditions,” he asserted, urging the international community to intervene.
These remarks came in the context of Prishtina’s recent actions to close down Serbian-run parallel institutions operating in Kosovo. The Kosovo government views these structures as illegal and incompatible with its sovereignty. While the measures have been backed by some Western officials, they have also faced criticism from international actors who argue that the moves were insufficiently coordinated and risk fueling instability.
Appeals for International Action
In his UN speech, Vučić called on the international community to take “concrete and determined steps” to halt what he described as violence in Kosovo. At the same time, he insisted that Serbia “believes in dialogue” facilitated by the European Union—a process that has been underway since 2011 but remains stalled at the political level.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move recognized by more than 100 countries, including 22 of the EU’s 27 members. Serbia, however, continues to reject recognition, and normalization talks with Prishtina have repeatedly failed to achieve lasting breakthroughs.
Stalled Dialogue and Rising Tensions
The last high-level political meeting between Kosovo and Serbia took place in September 2023, just days before the Banjska attack, when an armed group of Serbs ambushed Kosovo Police in the north, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. Responsibility for organizing the assault was claimed by Milan Radoičić, the former deputy leader of the Belgrade-backed Serb List party.
On the second anniversary of the attack, Kosovo authorities reiterated demands for Radoičić’s extradition along with other suspects. Prishtina has indicted 45 individuals for involvement in Banjska, but only three are currently standing trial in Kosovo; the rest remain out of reach of local authorities and continue to deny the charges.
A Familiar Narrative
Analysts note that Vučić’s UN speech combined familiar nationalist rhetoric with newer arguments aimed at portraying Serbia as a victim of international double standards. By framing Kosovo as both a cultural cradle and a site of alleged oppression of Serbs, Vučić sought to rally domestic support while pressing international audiences to question Prishtina’s policies.
Yet, the speech also underscored the deep stagnation in the EU-mediated dialogue. Without renewed engagement, observers warn that the cycle of nationalist rhetoric, parallel structures, and sporadic violence risks continuing—undermining both Kosovo’s sovereignty and Serbia’s aspirations for European integration.
