Joint Statement of the Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo after meeting with QUINT ambassadors and EU representative
The Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, in a joint meeting with the Quint Ambassadors and the EU representative, presented their coordinated and joint stance on holding the Serbian referendum on the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. In addition to being emphasized that Serbian citizens of Kosovo with suspicion will have the right to vote in accordance with international standards and practices, i.e. through the post office and in the interconnecting Office, the institutions made it clear that the opening of centers Serbia's voting in the territory of Kosovo consists of violations clear of the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, as well as international practices. Moreover, such an act is a violation of territorial integrity by Serbia in relation to the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo. Institutions have called on the international community to apply the same standards in relation to Kosovo as with any other state, since the independence of our state is not only recognized by the majority of democratic countries around the world, p or is it even sealed by the GJND.
The Constitution of Kosovo, the laws applicable in Kosovo as well as international law and international practice do not recognize the right of a state to hold a referendum in the sovereign territory of another state. Therefore, the practices applied so far since 2012, have been unconstitutional, and as a result do not require the present institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to be dashed by the clear will of the citizens expressed on February 14, 2021. Especially when these practices have resulted only in strengthening the illegal structures of Serbia in Kosovo.
Moreover, Kosovo institutions have emphasized that the issue is not the role of OSBE, but the role of Serbia and its parallel and illegal structures in Kosovo. Because, before the OSBE held a meeting of votes, there would be a completely illegal process of opening ballot boxes in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo for a referendum of another state, i.e. Serbia, this is the process d o to be organized by illegal structures of Serbia in Kosovo. As it is witnessed in the letter sent to OSBE by Serbian authorities, the reason why Serbia insists on opening the polling stations in Kosovo is because it considers Kosovo part of its territory. Therefore it also wants to use the referendum as a means of laying its sovereignty over Kosovo. Consequently, the position of Kosovo's institutions has nothing to do with the OSBE, but with opposing this ongoing trend of Serbia, which proves clear territorial claims against Kosovo.
Kosovo's institutions remain grateful to the Quint states and all other democratic states that have recognized Kosovo's independence and express their gratitude that even today at the meeting their support for integrity was reaffirmed the growth and sovereignty of our country. Being so, Kosovo's institutions call on all democratic states to support Kosovo in its efforts to stop Serbia's continued actions that undermine sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizenship Kosovo. Moreover, this practice of Serbia, which is following the Russian model, has the full support of the Russian Federation, thus proving their tendencies for rapid destabilization of our region and the undo of the successes that Kosovo and the region have achieved in partnership with democratic friend countries. Keeping the Serbian referendum in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Kosovo is a right step in our joint battle against autocracy and the advance of democratic practices, a dedication which Kosovo has also given to the D Summit democracy organized by the United States of America.
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