First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic visited the Kingdom of Lesotho today where he met top officials of that country.
“It is my great pleasure to be here in Lesotho today and to pay this visit agreed during the UNGA.
Following my talks with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lesotho revised its position concerning the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.
I received the Note Verbale from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho clearly stating that the Kingdom of Lesotho revokes all previous statements with regards to the status of Kosovo, especially those that could be interpreted in any way as the recognition of Kosovo. They consider that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, of February 2008, is in contravention of international law”, Minister Dacic underlined.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Kingdom of Lesotho has the honour to communicate that the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho considers that its sole contribution to the solution of the future status of Kosovo should be support to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, rather than the definition of the status before the dialogue is concluded. Therefore, the question whether Kosovo is a state or not is premature. The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho did not plead in this regard, nor will it plead until the dialogue of the two parties has been completed. Once the two parties reach an agreement, the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho will steadfastly support it.
At the same time, the Government of Lesotho revokes all previous statements made with regard to the status of Kosovo, especially those that could be interpreted in any way as the recognition of independence of Kosovo.
The Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Kosovo, of February 2008, is in contravention of the Helsinki Final Act, inter alia, its principles 3 and 4, and even more fundamentally in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations;
Under paragraph 10 of UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999), the Security Council has authorized the Secretary General “to establish international civilian presence in Kosovo in order to ensure interim administration within the framework of which the inhabitants of Kosovo will be able to enjoy substantial autonomy within the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia”, of which the Republic of Serbia if the legal successor of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
Under paragraph 11 of the said Resolution, the UNSC has decided that the responsibilities of the international civilian presence will include “in the final stage oversight of the transfer of authority from Kosovo’s provisional institutions to institutions established under a political settlement”. Since political settlement has not been reached yet, these institutions have not been established.
Unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo, of February 2008, constitutes manoeuver designed to establish the institutions envisioned by UNSC Resolution 1244 (1999), without any political dialogue or settlement with the Republic of Serbia. The ongoing process of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, with the EU facilitation, is aimed exactly to reach a political, lasting and sustainable solution”, states the verbal note.
“In sum, another country revoked recognition of Kosovo. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Lesotho will forward the same Note to the officials of the so-called Kosovo.
We thank Lesotho and we wish to foster the best possible relations with it. We thank Lesotho for showing understanding for our position and the need that they do not accept unilateral acts and support the arguments of Serbia”, the Head of Serbian diplomacy concluded.