I believe that Israel’s decision to recognize Kosovo was made under US pressure. At this moment, I do not see the possibility of Israel withdrawing that recognition, the ambassador of Israel to Serbia, Yahel Vilan said on Prva TV this morning. On the same show, Palestinian Ambassador to Serbia, Mohammed Nabhan spoke out against the transfer of the Serbian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Vilan states that Israel made that decision after many years of not recognizing Kosovo, noting that the decision „definitely goes against Israeli interests in Serbia“, as well as against the interests of the ambassador.
When asked whether Israel could revise this decision, the ambassador replied that he “would not like to leave any room for optimism for the public in Serbia without any good reason.”
„I don’t see it happening at the moment. An agreement was reached; Israel recognized Kosovo and Kosovo will move its embassy to Jerusalem. That has been done and I see no reason for Israel to withdraw the recognition of Kosovo at this moment, as long as both sides fulfill their obligations under the agreement,“ he said.
„Let’s not forget that this was done within the framework of the agreement between Serbia and Kosovo with the US – not with us,“ the ambassador also emphasized.
When asked by Prva TV journalist to confirm whether the agreement on Israel recognizing Kosovo was actually signed – bearing in mind that some Serb officials have allegedly claimed that “it wasn’t signed,” Vilan said:
„Why would I have an insight into that agreement?! That’s not my agreement. I have not seen any denials from either the US or Serbia. Serbia has never denied it. As far as I know, no one in Serbia denied that it was not signed. The document exists, as far as I know.“
The article on the ambassador’s guest appearance, during which he mostly spoke about the current clashes between Jews and Hamas, published on the B92 portal, bears the title: „The Israeli ambassador accuses Serbia.“ No further clarifications of the title were provided in the article in question.
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selakovic immediately reacted, claiming that the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic signed „a completely different paper from the one given to the Pristina side“.
„The ambassador’s statement is outrageous and it is absolutely not true,“ Selakovic said, the same media outlet reports.
What the agreements read and what Serb officials said
The day after the signing of the Washington Agreement, on September 5th, the Serbian president said it was an „excellent agreement.“
„We will not get a similar agreement for a long time, with anyone, about anything,“ he added.
On the same day, the then Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, stated that „it is important for Israel and the United States that Kosovo, as the first Muslim country, opens an embassy in Jerusalem.“
Both of them said last year that we should wait and see if Israel will recognize Kosovo – which Israel did around six months since the signing of the agreement.
The point of the agreement on the relations between Israel and Serbia, i.e. Israel and Kosovo, is the only point that differs in the documents that were individually signed by Aleksandar Vucic and Avdullah Hoti with the US on September 4th of last year. The documents were made available to the public on the same day of the signing.
„Serbia (Belgrade] agrees to open a commercial office, and a ministry of state offices, in Jerusalem on September 20th, 2020 and move its Embassy to Jerusalem by July 1st, 2021″ – reads the paper signed by Vucic.
On the other hand, Hoti committed to the following:
„Kosovo (Pristina) and Israel have agreed on mutual recognition.“
The Palestinian ambassador respects Resolution 1244, and expects respect for Resolution 478
The Palestinian Ambassador to Serbia, Mohammed Nabhan, also made a guest appearance on the same show. In addition to expressing a completely different view regarding the situation in Gaza, Nabhan also spoke out against the relocation of any embassy, including the Serbian embassy, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
„Because Jerusalem is an occupied city. East Jerusalem is an occupied city. Please tell me what would you say to someone coming and opening an embassy in Pristina?! Would that be OK for you?! Is that okay with you?!” Nabhan said, who made a guest appearance from Gaza via video call.
Speaking of the Kosovo issue, he stated:
„We do not recognize that on the account of Resolution 1244 and because of Serbia’s attitude toward it“.
At the same time, the Palestinian ambassador emphasized that they expect the same from their friends:
„That is why we ask all our friends to respect our position and the United Nations resolution. Resolution 478 concerns Jerusalem, which asks all countries in the world not to move and not to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It is clear and of course, whoever does that – it will affect our relations with that country“.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
