Shkeljcim Devoli's position as honorary consul of Kosovo in Montenegro has been terminated, announced Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs Donika Gervala.
The decision was made because of Devoli's documents, which state that Peja is a city in Serbia, Kosovo Online reports. Devoli, who has held the position since 2019, said that his documents are "the same as those of all Kosovo citizens who received Montenegrin citizenship before Montenegro recognized Kosovo."
Gervala said that no one who denies the statehood of Kosovo can be a representative of that state.
"Zero tolerance towards those who deny the Republic of Kosovo. Never 'Peć, Serbia', but 'Pejë, Republic of Kosovo'. Yesterday, the mandate of Mr. Shkeljcim Devoli as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kosovo in Montenegro for the consular region of Rožaje ended. The decision, which was made as soon as I was informed about this case, is irreversible. The goal is clear - to protect the dignity of the Republic of Kosovo from any attempt to deny it," she wrote on Facebook.
Gervala's post was also shared by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who said that the Republic of Kosovo cannot be represented by those who deny it.
"The republic cannot be represented by those who deny it. Pec is in Kosovo, never in Serbia," Kurti wrote.
Devoli: We will continue to work for Kosovo
Shkeljcim Devoli reacted with a message that he is a proud citizen of Peja and Kosovo.
He pointed out that, at the time he obtained Montenegrin citizenship, Kosovo had not declared independence and Montenegro had not yet recognized it.
"My documents are the same as those of all Kosovo citizens who received Montenegrin citizenship before Montenegro recognized Kosovo. There are countries that, even after recognizing Kosovo's independence, continued to write the names of Kosovo cities as Serbian in official documents. Until recently, Germany did the same, even though it recognized Kosovo 17 years ago," Devoli pointed out, as reported by Kosovo Online.
He says it is ironic that Kosovo's Foreign Minister Donika Gervala, who came to this position from Germany, is making efforts to turn her and her colleagues' failures into the failures of the citizens of Kosovo.
"Perhaps Gervala will now issue German passports that say Peć-Serbia to all Kosovo citizens who have been granted citizenship by the German state," Devoli noted.
He emphasizes that it was and remains the duty of politicians to work to ensure that other countries accept Kosovo's documents.
"I love my country. We have worked for generations and will continue to work for Kosovo. My ancestors, I and my children lived, live and will live in Kosovo," Devoli said.
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