Balkans | Serbian leader Vucic says he is “skeptical” about a solution to the Kosovo issue

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that they aim to reach a compromise on the Kosovo issue, but he treats this issue with skepticism.

Vucic met Kosovo Serb representatives at Raska, near Serbia’s border with Kosovo.

Speaking to the press after the meeting with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Vucic said that his country will continue to work to contribute to the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina, “We will try to reach conciliatory solutions, but at this stage I am very skeptical because I do not see a good request from Kosovo.” He said.

More than 40 million euros will be given to Kosovo Serbs in financial aid, Vucic said, “We have heard what kind of problems our brothers are facing.” He said.

Prior to the meeting, Vucic said that Kosovo aims to drag his country into conflict with NATO through its “provocations”, and said: “Any conflict in Kosovo means conflict with NATO. We will do everything we can to prevent that from happening.” He rated it.

Vucic reiterated that his country has always advocated peace and security.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Vucic agreed on the agreement to normalize relations between the two countries in negotiations that lasted nearly 12 hours in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on March 18, with the mediation of the European Union.

The 11-point agreement that will normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which was made public, does not force Serbia to recognize Kosovo’s independence, but requires both countries to recognize each other’s official documents and symbols, including passports, diplomas and license plates. . Kosovo is required to establish a “Federation of Serb Municipalities” which will have self-government rights in settlements where most Serbs live in the country.

Although Kosovo is recognized as an independent country by 117 countries, it is described as one of Europe’s “frozen conflict zones” due to persistent ethnic tensions in its north and its inability to become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common way to normalize relations, and eventually the two countries get to know each other, within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process initiated in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union.

AA