The Assembly of Serbia approves the Declaration of the "All-Serbian Assembly", what is said about Kosovo

The Assembly of Serbia has approved on Wednesday the so-called Declaration for the protection of national and political rights and the common future of the Serbian people, which came out of an "All-Serbian Assembly" last month in Belgrade.

The declaration - approved on June 8 in Belgrade at a joint meeting of the Government of Serbia and that of Republika Srpska, the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina - consists of 49 points and also mentions Kosovo.

It states that the Serbian people "constitute a single entity" and that, although "throughout history, the Serbian people have lived in many states with different names, they have the right to preserve their rich tradition."

In the June 8 meeting in Belgrade, it was insisted on, as it has been said, "the use of the full name of the southern Serbian province - Kosovo and Metohija" - as a reference for the state of Kosovo.

The Serbian news agency Beta reports that the Declaration was approved with 139 votes in favor and was applauded by representatives of the Serbian Government. Nine deputies voted against, while none abstained.

The President of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, was not present during the voting, despite the fact that his arrival in the Assembly of Serbia had been announced. The Speaker of the Assembly of Serbia, Ana Bërnabi?, had participated in the session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia when the latter voted on the Declaration in Banja Lukë at the beginning of this month, the N1 portal reported.

The adoption of this Declaration by Republika Srpska was condemned by members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as by the United States Embassy in Sarajevo.

What is said about Kosovo?

In addition to the part about the name, the Declaration also mentions that Kosovo "is an inalienable part of Serbia", and that the All-Serbian Assembly supports the efforts of the Republic of Serbia to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty, guaranteed by international law, Resolution 1244 and other resolutions of United Nations Security Council.

Among other things, it is mentioned that Serbs in Kosovo, as well as all other citizens who are loyal to Serbia, must protect monasteries, churches, private properties, cemeteries and other endangered objects.

The signatories of the Declaration have also condemned what they considered intolerable living conditions of Serbs in Kosovo, created by the authorities of Pristina, but without mentioning any concrete facts.

In another point, the need for the creation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo, and the continuation of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels, was mentioned as the only sustainable way to solve the problem.

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence and is constantly engaged in lobbying campaigns against Kosovo.

The two countries have been in dialogue in Brussels, for the normalization of relations, since 2011.

The parties have signed a number of agreements, but not all have been implemented. / REL