October 21, 2025
Mr. President,
I would first like to thank the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Shin, for his briefing. I would also like to welcome the presence among us of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Mr. Marko Djuric, and of Kosovo, Ms. Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz, as well as the Representative of the European Union, Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis.
France welcomes the holding of the first round of municipal elections in Kosovo on last October 12. These elections were carried out without incident and with the participation of all communities, as observed by the members of the Council of Europe delegation which conducted an election observation mission. France welcomes the participation of the Serbs of Kosovo in the electoral process and calls for a peaceful transfer of power in the municipalities of northern Kosovo.
Mr. President,
1/ There is no other possible positive alternative, nor for Serbia, nor for Kosovo, than to normalize their relations, which is key to their integration into the European Union. It is within the framework of the dialogue facilitated by the European Union that an agreement can be reached that will definitively resolve the disputes between the two countries.
France will continue to support European mediation, in particular the effort of the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Mr. Peter Sørensen.
Mr. President,
2/ In order to achieve this normalization, both countries must respect the commitments made under the Brussels-Ohrid agreements.
France therefore deplores the fact that the Kosovar government’s continued closure of Serbian administrative structures in Kosovo is having negative repercussion on the daily lives of the Serbian population in Kosovo. The status of these administrative structures must be resolved through the creation of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities (ASMM), within the framework of European mediation.
France also encourages the restoration of Serbs’ active participation in local governance, law enforcement, and the judicial system in northern Kosovo.
Likewise, it is unacceptable that the perpetrators of the Banjska attack ramain at large, more than two years after the events. It is essential that all those responsible be brought to justice and held accountable.
Mr. President,
3/ France continues to support UNMIK’s efforts, in coordination with KFOR and EULEX Kosovo. France supports efforts aiming at improving and streamlining peacekeeping missions through efficiency measures, in accordance with their mandates. UNMIK’s mandate is closely entwined to the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. France is in favor of extending it for as long as necessary.