Serbia angry over Turkish PM's Kosovo remarks
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 26 October 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Serbia angry over Turkish PM's Kosovo remarks, 26 October 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/528b680214.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Comments | All reference to Kosovo should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 26, 2013
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Prizren, some 90 kilometers from Kosovo's capital Pristina.
Serbia's government says it will formally protest remarks Turkey's prime minister made during a visit to Kosovo this week.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a cheering crowd in Kosovo on October 23 that "Turkey is Kosovo and Kosovo is Turkey," emphasizing the two nations' shared history and culture.
He was accompanied by his counterparts in Kosovo and Albania, Hashim Thaci and Edi Rama.
A Serbian government statement said on October 25 that Erdogan's comments represent "a severe violation of international law and interference in Serbia's internal affairs."
It said they "harm relations between Belgrade and Ankara and disturb efforts deployed by Serbia to normalize the situation in the region, notably in Kosovo."
Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade refuses to recognize its independence.
Turkey was among the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
