National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details

26 May 2024 The National Assembly delegation at the meeting of the NATO PA Defence and Security Committee
Sunday, 26 May 2024
National Assembly Delegation at NATO PA Defence and Security Committee Meeting
Members of the delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly took part in the debate on the draft report of the Defence and Security Committee "Western Balkans: renewed security challenges on NATO’s doorstep".
Acting head of the delegation Natasa Jovanovic used the opportunity to point out the extremely complex reality in Kosovo-Metohija, reminding the attending of the physical, legal and political vulnerability of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, widespread institutional discrimination in all aspects - administrative, legislative, judicial, prosecutorial, property, health, etc. She stressed how complex it is to consider the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, as it is a matter of unilateral secession of part of the territory of an internationally recognised state. Everything that happens in and in relation to Kosovo-Metohija is a political, legal and territorial problem that must be resolved by agreement. At the same time, the Pristina side refuses to implement all the agreements reached and continues to take unilateral illegal moves, and after more than 11 years, is yet to set up a Community of Serb Municipalities and has not fulfilled other obligations.
MP Jovanovic reminded that Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija are victims of three separate waves of violence and exodus that followed each of them. The first was in June and July 1999, the second during and after the March violence in 2004, and the third is currently ongoing concurrent with Albin Kurti’s second government and his unilateral moves to the detriment of the Serbian community. She pointed out that, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, only KFOR can act as a legal and legitimate armed force on the territory of Kosovo-Metohija and that any other entity's attempt to perform these functions is contrary to international law.
MP Goran Rakic said that Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija face a very difficult situation every day and that they are denied the most basic human rights. He reminded that Pristina did not fulfil any of the agreements reached, including the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities. If the Community of Serb Municipalities is not formed, the credibility of the EU and NATO will also be called into question. He thanked the members of the KFOR mission, who, pursuant to the mandate entrusted them by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, take care of the security of the Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, as the only legal and legitimate armed forces in this area.
In addition, the members of the National Assembly delegation had a series of bilateral meetings, on the sidelines of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session in Sofia. Among others, they had a meeting with the head of the US delegation to the NATO PA Michael Turner who was handed a letter from the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia calling on the members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly not to adopt the decision to grant associate status to the so-called "Kosovo Assembly", which would represent a "reward" for the reckless behaviour of Pristina, which is doing everything in its power to obstruct the dialogue and not fulfil its obligations under the Brussels Agreement.