Vučić’s address at the UN: “What is the difference between Ukraine and Serbia?”

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić took part at the General Debate of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, main theme being: „A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges“.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic assessed that this year’s General Debate is held in terms of undermined world peace, to the extent that has not been seen ever since the World War II and since the establishment of the United Nations. The global challenges we are facing are threatening to radically change international security architecture and jeopardize the established international legal order. Such complex times demand a lot of wisdom and unity, in order to preserve peace as the absolutely most important heritage woven into the foundations of the United Nations Organization, said Vucic.

The Serbian President said he would speak about five key challenges, which are returning to peace and preservation of global stability, preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of internationally recognized UN members, energy security in terms of the global crisis, financial safety of the poor and developing countries and food supply in terms of global supply chains interrupted by war.

Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere, and these words are a reminder and a warning to us all, said Vucic stressing that, in spite of the consequences of the gross violation of basic provisions of international public law, Belgrade will keep advocating consistent observance of the principle of inviolability of borders.

We consistently advocate respect for the principle of sovereignty and integrity, said Vucic, adding that Serbia respects Ukraine’s integrity.

The Serbian President said none of the interlocutors provided a rational answer to the question regarding the difference between the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, which was grossly violated.

“We could hear from many speakers the stories about aggression and violation of territorial integrity of Ukraine. Many say that this was the first conflict on the European soil after the World War II. But, the truth that the territorial integrity of a country in Europe – Serbia as a matter of fact, which did not attack any other sovereign country, was violated is constantly unspoken. We ask for a clear answer to the question I’ve been asking my interlocutors, leaders of many countries for years – what is the difference between the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, which was grossly violated, and for which you provided international recognition and legitimacy? Nobody has ever provided a rational answer to that question,” said Vucic addressing the United Nations.

He noted that Serbia has not set foot anyone else’s territory, or endangered the territorial integrity of a single sovereign state so that anyone might intervene or carry out an aggression against it, the way it was done in 1999.

“Nevertheless, this did not prevent NATO from attacking a sovereign country without the decision by the United Nations Security Council. The signing of the Agreement with NATO – upon termination of the armed conflict – whose provisions envisaged the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and which confirmed and guaranteed partial sovereignty and full territorial integrity of Serbia, did not prevent many western countries from unilateral recognition of independence of the so-called “Kosovo” and from violating, once again, the territorial integrity of our country and of the UN Charter,” said Vucic.

He said that, precisely due to such developments that Serbia experienced and that is has been experiencing, he was convinced that he is fully entitled to quote the words of great Martin Luther King: “Injustice anywhere is threat to justice everywhere”. “These words are carved like a reminder, but as a warning to all of us,” stressed Vucic.

“Regardless of the fact that we still feel the consequences of the gross violation of basic provisions of international public law, we do not give up on the United Nations foundation principles. We shall keep advocating consistent observance of the principle of inviolability of borders, respect for sovereignty and integrity of all other UN member states. Despite such position of ours, many in this room have issues with respecting territorial integrity of Serbia. You wonder why? Because they have the power in their hands, and in their eyes, we are small and weak. However, as you could hear, we do have the strength to tell the truth here,” said Vucic.

The Serbian President said Belgrade will continue negotiations with Pristina under the auspices of the European Union (EU) because “it is better to negotiate for a hundred years, than to wage war for a single day.”

I hope that we will reach a mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, because this is the absolutely only way to reach our goal, which is long-lasting peace and prosperity for both Serbs and for the Albanians, as well as for the entire region, said Vucic.

The policy of sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation cannot bring good results for anyone, assessed President Vucic, stressing that Serbia will continue to be a factor of stability in the Balkans.

He said a hybrid war and a dirty campaign in a part of international community is waged against Serbia, adding :”It would be enough just to remind you of the quotes and allegations of world media that Serbia would attack its neighbors and that Serbia was a threat to regional stability.”

“Serbia was featured as a potential destabilizing factor in the region, only to be prevented from telling the truth – that the principle of inviolability of borders must be equally applicable to all. Serbia was and will be a factor of stability in the entire region,” said Vucic, stressing that, despite the many untruths that could be heard, Serbia supports the Dayton Peace Accords.

The President said Serbia owes “special gratitude to all those UN member states – and they currently constitute majority at this Assembly, who support the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, particularly in the space and territory of Kosovo and Metohija.”

“It is additionally encouraging that the number of countries who support Serbia’s position increased in period between two sessions, which is a trend that must continue, because it is of utmost importance to remain loyal to basic principles woven into the UN Charter, such as the principle of inviolability of borders,” said Vucic.

“It is a difficult process, it has been lasting for more than ten years, but we see no alternative to it. It is better to negotiate for hundred years, than to wage war for a single day. I hope that we will reach mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, because this is the absolutely only way for reaching our goal, which is a long-lasting peace, as a prerequisite of prosperous life for Serbs and Albanians in our region. We have exhausted all other options and, and speaking for Serbia, at least, we do not even dream about going back to the paths of conflicts and bloodsheds,” said the Serbian President.

The Balkan region could not stand another conflict, said Vucic.

“I rely on good will and understanding from our international partners, because they know well that some earlier decisions by their governments had been bad and that they had not been acting in favor of the future of our region and world peace. Belgrade is running this process under very complex circumstances with elements of hybrid war and dirty campaign in part of international community against our country, in different fields. It would be enough just to remind you of the quotes and allegations of world media that Serbia would attack its neighbors and that Serbia was a threat to regional stability. Of course, it never happened. And it was only one among numerous lies against the Republic of Serbia,” said the Serbian President.