Djuric: The US insists more on the formation of the CSM than certain European officials do

The Ambassador of Serbia to the USA, Marko Djuric, has said tonight that Serbia in the USA has a partner for peace and stability in the region, but that we should not have the illusion that America will change its position on the independence of Kosovo, with the assessment that the conversation between President Aleksandar Vucic and the senior State department advisor Derek CHollet was good.

"The conversation was good. This is a good day for Serbian-American relations. We discussed Kosovo and Metohija, the situation in the region, the improvement of bilateral relations in all spheres, the fight for investments, the development of our energy sector, which we are also planning with the help of the USA," Djuric told RTS.

He reported that the atmosphere during the meeting was very positive, and President Vucic presented Serbia's views to the interlocutors, without complaining, he says, and without pointing fingers as they do in Pristina.

"Vucic asked a rational and logical question “since February 2022, have you seen or recorded a single case of Serbs in Kosovo attacking someone or causing an incident, leading to a crisis”. This was understood by the interlocutors," Djuric said.

He added that Vucic had been in the dialogue for 11 years, and that he was seen as a credible and generous interlocutor, with whom problems were solved.

"He described in detail everything that was happening, the terror and pressures that the Serbs experienced. He expressed Serbia's desire for things to be better," Ambassador Djuric said.

When asked if there were hints that Washington could discipline Pristina, he said that it could be said that Serbia was being carefully listened to and that Pristina did not have unconditional support in Washington.

"The conversation lasted two hours and 45 minutes, and it was supposed to last an hour. This was an evening of a real fight for Serbian interests," Djuric said.

The ambassador added that he was returning to the US the next day with a "list of tasks" that would continue to improve the position of the Serbian side in Washington.

"We will continue to lobby to gain more support for our side," he added.

When asked about the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, Djuric said that the US insisted more on the formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities than certain European officials, which did not go unnoticed in Pristina.

"It is the result of work and credibility that has been built up over the years. There is a whole series of things that must be done, not as conditions or blackmail. The Serbs are not pressuring anyone, we are only asking for the situation to return to what it was before February, when Kurti's regime abused the situation in Ukraine and started building bases in the north, to arrest our people, and we are asking for our people to be released, which was discussed even today", Djuric stated.

He repeated that the American officials were listening and understood and that during the conversation, he did not hear "can't" or "we won't" from their side.

Djuric also assessed that Pristina's attempts to become a member of certain international organizations were destructive moves and attacks on Washington's policies from September 2020, when Pristina pledged not to lobby in international organizations.

"My impression is that the US sees it as a distraction, something that distracts from the dialogue," Djuric said.

He added that Serbia would continue to indicate that this practice was not constructive, noting that Serbian diplomacy in recent years had led to 19 derecognitions of Kosovo's independence, and that it was futile that representatives of Kosovo "take photos with ambassadors in the corridors" in an attempt to deny withdrawal of recognition.

"We have 19 withdrawal notes, and if they continue to do that, we will continue to do ours," Djuric said.

He points out that the USA always observes the region in a broader context, not only on a bilateral basis.

"It is significant that in terms of economy, the number of people and the distribution of Serbs in the region, we are a factor that needs to be discussed with if peace and stability are desired. Since Serbia wants peace and stability, it is normal for the USA to seek cooperation. We should have no illusions that the USA will change its position on the independence of Kosovo, but we have it as a partner for peace and stability," Ambassador Djuric said.

He added that economic cooperation with the USA was important, and that another business delegation would visit in February.