Dacic after his Washington visit: It can be seen that there is much more understanding of Serbia's positions

This morning, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic reflected on this week's visit to Washington, where he attended the National Prayer Breakfast and, among other things, spoke with State Department officials Derek Chollet and Gabriel Escobar. As the main impression from his visit to America, Dacic points out that the attitude towards Serbia and the atmosphere in bilateral relations have changed a lot, Kurir reports.

"Today it can be seen that there is much more understanding of Serbia's positions, much more understanding of what Serbia's problems are and what Serbia's vision is. I cannot say that the positions are the same because there are structural and systemic differences regarding the issue of Kosovo and Metohija's independence, but now the situation is such that it can be said that we can build some foundations for our future strategic partnership. I think this is very important because it is impossible to even think about the way and the possibility of reaching a political solution without such relations with the US," Dacic said in a guest appearance on TV Pink.

It is primarily a result of the responsible attitude of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, as he added, towards these most important issues.

"This is the effect of his approach, including these latest discussions and events, i.e., the approach that is in Washington and Brussels, since I had the opportunity to hear this from Borrell and from Lajcak in Brussels, who said that President Vucic behaved responsibly and constructively, unlike Kurti. Belgrade's desire and intention is clear to constructively approach further dialogue, with a clear presentation of its red lines," Dacic said.

Speaking about the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities establishment, the head of the Serbian diplomacy reiterates that he found understanding in Washington, that is, that the US position is not to discuss the obligations. He received assurances from the American interlocutors that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities establishment is a priority that will be insisted on and that it must be started as soon as possible – it cannot be left for the end of the dialogue, as Pristina is trying to position the issue.

"These are two separate issues, the further dialogue continuation, and the CSM establishment," Dacic explained, on which an agreement was reached during his visit to Washington.

On the other hand, he added, the dissatisfaction of international factors with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti rests on his arrogance and insistence on the sequence of steps that suits Pristina because Kurti is trying to postpone the CSM establishment, that is, to present it as the final part of the agreement and condition it by fulfilling Pristina's demands, which is an attitude for which international factors have less and less patience.

"Serbia's international position has changed, we have a better basis for further discussion," Dacic pointed out.

Until two weeks ago, there was a danger that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe would accept Kosovo's request for membership and start the admission procedure, the minister explains, but, after all, after Belgrade's constructive approach and Pristina's destructive approach, the Quint countries, all except for the UK, recommended postponing the issue until further development of the situation.

"The emphasis in everything that the state leadership undertakes is on Serbia's interests," Dacic stated.

The head of the Serbian diplomacy notes that this includes the issue of the potential introduction of sanctions against Russia.

"It is not a matter of Russia and Ukraine at all – it is a matter of Serbia and Serbian interests. The sanctions introduction would not solve the main problems we have because the sanctions introduction cannot ensure that, for example, the idea of Pristina's membership in the UN is abandoned," Dacic concluded.