The Presidency of the Republic of Kosovo expresses its indignation for the unacceptable statements issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia as well as for the propaganda that is being carried out against the Republic of Kosovo in certain North Macedonian media outlets, regarding the unprecedented incident against President Osmani which took place yesterday at the Skopje international airport.
Instead of an apology, yesterday and today the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia fully justified the request of the airport security to take possession and scan the personal mobile phone of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, which is also used by the head of state for official communication even on issues of national security. Madam President has rightly rejected such a request, based on the advice she has received from the security institutions for years. Today, the Skopje Airport and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Macedonia admitted that the order was issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia for such an act, which completely contradicts the rules of handling heads of state according to diplomatic practices.
We would like to once again clarify the whole situation:
1. According to international practices and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, when heads of state travel, they are protected by diplomatic privileges and immunities. This is universally known and has so far been respected by every country where Madam President has traveled, including countries that have not recognized Kosovo. The Macedonian side has been officially notified in advance of the President’s trip as per diplomatic practices.
2. It is not true that Madam President refused to have her handbag scanned. Initially, Madam President did not have luggage with her as propagated in numerous reactions in the North Macedonian media. Hence, it is a lie that she refused to have her luggage checked. She had a personal handbag which she immediately placed in the scanner, even though the security, according to international convention practices, had no right to request such a thing. The only thing that the President refused to hand over was her mobile phone.
3. It is scandalous for anyone to claim that Madam President allegedly had something suspicious in her bag. Not only is it a big lie, but this is simultaneously the most serious accusation and the most serious propaganda ever made by the media in North Macedonia towards the Republic of Kosovo. Even more scandalous is today’s statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, alleging that the interior minister of North Macedonia had certain information that led to the request to check Madam President’s personal handbag and mobile phone. This is an unprecedented tendency to denigrate not only the President but also the state of Kosovo. North Macedonia should take into account that such propaganda is being done against a President, who throughout her mandate has contributed to the expansion of positive relations between Kosovo and North Macedonia.
4. It is not true that the private company or the airport concessionaires are above the state and above the international conventions which clearly define the rules for the treatment of the heads of state. Pristina Airport is also concessioned and managed by a private company, but we would never allow a president of another country to be treated in such an undignified and arrogant manner and to be asked to take his / her mobile phone for placement in the scanners.
5. Such an act is not a good practice and contradicts security protocols and international practices, given that the mobile phone of the Head of State is known to be used for official communication, including on security issues. The inspection of the President’s handbag was contrary to these standards, but despite this, she immediately placed the bag in the scanner.
6. Even though the Kosovo Police communicated in advance to the Skopje airport officials the applicable rules in such situations, they tried to physically hinder Madam President, in which case and in full compliance with the security protocols, the Kosovo Police reacted professionally.
7. Yesterday’s situation at the Skopje Airport cannot be explained or evaluated in any other way, except as a pure provocation and a tendency to cause an incident.
8. Instead of making excuses and allowing the propaganda against the Republic of Kosovo, we ask the official authorities in Skopje to urgently treat the case with high seriousness and to take appropriate measures against the officials who carried out this attack on the Republic of Kosovo.
9. In all Madam President’s travels, from the USA to other countries in the region, the rules on the treatment of the heads of state are fully respected and it is NEVER requested to touch, let alone submit to the scanner, either the President’s mobile phone or handbag and not even her carry on case.
10. These are rules that every state respects and even the non-recognising states have also respected them because the head of state represents the state itself. So Kosovo in this case is not asking for anything other than respect for the norms that are applied everywhere in the world. Any violation of these norms is considered a violation and disrespect to the state itself.
