Vucevic: It should be clear to everyone that Serbia will never give up Kosovo and Metohija

Serbia will never give up Kosovo and Metohija, at any cost. This should be clear to everyone. Of course, full membership in the European Union remains our strategic goal. We will not abandon the European path because it is in the interest of our economy, infrastructure, and our citizens. However, full membership is not close, but that is not our fault. First, Brussels must assess whether it is ready to accept new members," Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said in an interview with Novosti.

"Let me emphasize once again: we will not give up the fight for our sovereignty and integrity. Serbia led by the Serbian Progressive Party will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of so-called Kosovo, and I am confident that their attempt to join the United Nations will not succeed. The fight is not equal, but in the end – we will prevail!" Vucevic said in an interview with Novosti.

As you leave the position of Minister of Defense, do you still believe that the Serbian Army is capable of defending the state and our people in Kosovo and Metohija in case, God forbid, there is an attack by Kurti's thugs?

We are determined to preserve peace. Stability and peace are essential to us because they are a prerequisite for national prosperity. Our army is powerful today, the strongest in the region, and strong enough to deter any potential aggressor and any Kurti attempt to provoke another March Pogrom or "Storm."

What will be the cornerstone of your mandate in these challenging times?

This will be a government of continuity. We will follow President Vucic's policy and strive to help him in the best possible way in these difficult times and the unequal fight he leads in the international arena. The government is diverse, composed of top professionals, including veterans and newcomers, both genders, members of different ethnic groups, confessions... But what is important – Serbia is in the hearts of everyone.

How realistic is it for Sarajevo to present Belgrade with a bill for war damages if the resolution in the UN is adopted? A similar move is being prepared by the authorities in Pristina...

I have no doubt that such actions are being considered in Sarajevo and Pristina, just as I have no doubt that such ideas will not bear fruit. I am sorry that the political elites in Sarajevo and Pristina constantly return to divisive issues instead of discussing what can unite us. We will continue to defend our national dignity and preserve peace.

Do you expect President Vucic to support Dodik's idea of a peaceful separation in Bosnia and Herzegovina? And can the document of the Germans, if adopted at the East River, only accelerate disintegration?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a state of three constituent peoples, including the Serbs. It is a state whose integrity we respect and have never questioned, nor will we. Everyone will always have a dialogue partner in Serbia if they want to work on strengthening Dayton's Bosnia and Herzegovina. A state where the letter of the law, not the arbitrary spirit of the Dayton Peace Agreement of 1995, will be respected. A state where Republika Srpska will be able to exercise all the rights it is entitled to and which the Serbian people want to achieve. No one can forbid us from loving Republika Srpska. No one will impose guilt or the stigma of a genocidal nation on us. The Drina River will never again be a river on which an embargo was imposed by Serbs against Serbs. We will support, protect, and love Republika Srpska like no one else, regardless of whether someone in the international community likes it or not. Republika Srpska lives and will continue to live, and Serbia will always be there for it.

The Army has submitted a proposal to the President for the return of military service. How prepared are we, infrastructure-wise, for that decision?

More effort will be needed, but I believe that all logistical challenges will soon be overcome, and we will be ready for the return of regular military service, a decision that has not yet been finalized.

Has the government shown weakness by agreeing to change electoral laws? Isn't this a precedent for all future oppositions to demand a change in rules in the middle of an election campaign?

No. It is an attempt to improve the culture of dialogue and compromise skills. I know that most of the opposition will not like that either because they don't like anything since they find it hard to accept the fact that the people don't want them. Despite all the pressure, we will continue to insist that elections be held within the system's institutions, not on the streets through destructive demonstrations.

How involved is Ambassador Hill in election engineering? Allegedly, he is largely responsible for Djilas biting the boycott bait, which, in essence, does not exist, and brought Manojlovic onto the official political scene... Generally, do you think Hill's behavior in recent months has crossed the line of diplomatic rules? He resolves electoral disputes, advises Serbs on how to behave towards Russia and China, consoles Gruhonjic at the faculty...

Mr. Hill is an experienced diplomat who has been dealing with the part of Europe to which Serbia belongs for a long time. His job is to represent the interests of the United States. Do I always agree with Washington's views? No. But will I always listen to what American representatives have to say and talk to them? Yes, I will. The United States is a global superpower. Certainly, the most powerful country in the world. Of course, it is in the best Serbian interest to build the best possible relations with Americans. And we will do that. Where there are fundamental disagreements, such as Kosovo and Metohija's status, we will tirelessly repeat our position and never give it up.

The contracts with the French for the purchase of "Rafale" fighters have attracted a lot of attention. How do you respond to criticisms that this is a political trade and that for the same money, we could have bought many more of the most modern Russian fighters, and that our pilots would need much less time for training in that case?

Serbia is developing its own defense industry and will buy weapons and equipment wherever it can and whenever it needs to improve its defense capabilities. Of course, geography also plays a role in arms procurement. I don't know if those who criticize our cooperation with the French regarding "Rafale" have ever looked at a geographical map and seen that we are surrounded by NATO countries, except for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which hosts EUFOR? And then I ask them – how did they think we would acquire such sophisticated weapons and equipment from Russia when NATO countries do not allow the import of Russian weapons or the transit of Russian weapons through their territories?

Have you followed the imposition of various sanctions packages against Russia by NATO member countries?

We pursue a sovereign and independent policy. We are strengthening our strong friendship with China. We do not impose and will not impose sanctions on Russia. In given geopolitical circumstances, which are very complex, we achieve the maximum of the set goals that the citizens of Serbia have set for us.

You signed the Serbian Progressive Party election list in Novi Sad. How likely is it that the united opposition will win in your city? Also, they hope for victory in Nis, looking back that this is how Milosevic's defeat began...

We are facing a great struggle and, certainly, a campaign that will not be easy. But I am optimistic and expect victory in Novi Sad and Nis. Novi Sad residents and Nis residents know well what their cities looked like and see what kind of centers they are today. There is still a lot of work ahead of us, and I am sure that Novi Sad and Nis will continue to develop, just like Belgrade and every other city in Serbia and every part of our beautiful and unique Serbia.

How are you spending the Easter holidays?

Working. I will attend the Easter liturgy and spend as much time as I can with my family. Unfortunately, there won't be much time for that. The work ahead of us is hard, and the great challenges are yet to come. We will work as much as necessary for our American partners to hear us and, as much as possible, take our arguments into account. In areas where our and American interests overlap, we will work diligently and devotedly to further increase the level of cooperation and benefit for our people. I firmly believe that our relations can be at a high level again and that the period that began in 1991, about whose interpretation we will probably never agree politically, can finally move into the realm of history and a sober assessment of facts by experts on both sides.