Kosovo can’t make it into UN like Palestine: Serbian foreign minister

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Kosovo will not make it into the UN like Palestine, because Kosovo wants to be a full-fledged member, not just an observer, said Serbia’s foreign minister on Monday.

“In the UN General Assembly, out of 193 members, Kosovo can’t get more than 83,” said Ivica Dacic on local Happy TV.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member states – including the US, UK, France, Germany, and Türkiye – recognizing it as a separate autonomous country.

But Serbia continues to see Kosovo as its territory. Russia and China – both permanent members of the UN Security Council – are among the countries that have yet to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Palestine is recognized by 138 of the 193 UN member states but has observer status at the UN.

Dacic added that four countries have already recognized Kosovo’s independence, but they would not vote for Kosovo’s UN membership.

Kosovo “no longer has a smooth majority in the UN, and at the same time such a decision must be passed by the Security Council, and that’s why the position of Russia and China is crucial for us, as they could possibly veto it,” said Dacic.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic earlier said that Germany and France have offered to expedite Serbia’s EU membership process if Serbia allows Kosovo to enter all international institutions and communities, including the UN and the Council of Europe.