Djuric: US position is that everything signed in Brussels must be implemented, including the CSM

The Ambassador of Serbia to the US, Marko Djuric, pointed out that it was significant that in the past years, Serbia had set changing its image as one of its key priorities, especially in the US, and added that the American position was that everything signed in Brussels, including the agreement on the CSM, must be fully implemented.

As a guest on TV Pink's Morning Show, Djuric emphasized that the Embassy of Serbia in the United States had hosted 15 important events since the beginning of the year.

"We also had a meeting to strengthen ties, which is of strategic importance because we gathered representatives of Serbs in the United States around the creation of a Serbian lobby, which is crucial for the protection of our state and national interests. When we talk with the members of Congress, the goal is to refresh Serbia's image. We tell them about the opportunities in Serbia and how far our country has progressed. Today, Serbia is a country that is rapidly developing economically, politically, and socially," Djuric stated.

He emphasized that Serbia was good news in Washington today.

"When we say that ten new highways are being built in Serbia today, that Serbia managed to maintain a responsible macroeconomic fiscal policy despite the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and global turbulence, that is not what they expect to hear, and it is not what they know from the past," Djuric said.

He added that the scope of Serbia's activities was broad.

Serbia, according to Djuric, has two problems.

"The first is that for a decade, we believed as a society that we didn't need to prove anything to anyone. During that time, some much smaller ones with much worse goals were building their own lobby. It cost us a lot. We now have and are establishing a Serbian lobby in America. On a daily basis, our job is not appealing, but it is a strategic process. We are building relationships with people who will be present in politics for years to come. President Vucic hosted Senator Steve Daines from Montana yesterday, and the visit went excellently. Vucic made a strong case for Serbia in the conversation with him. A visit from one of the most influential Democratic congressmen is expected in a few days. We are building a pool of people who will be a link between America and Serbia. And our rivals try to portray Serbia as a puppet, sometimes of Russia or China, and put us on the other side in relation to America, taking advantage of the situation in Ukraine," Djuric added.

As he said, Serbia leads a balanced politics; it does not serve anyone, but there is no reason not to build a strong position in the most powerful country.

Djuric also stated that regarding the CSM, there was a strong determination in America for what had been signed in Brussels in 2013 to be implemented.

"Also, don't think that people are thrilled with Kurti's behavior and the conflicts he causes. Support for Kurti is changing, and we are working on it intensively. That is why it is important to maintain relations. Chollet recognizes the opportunities in the region, and on the other hand, we have a senator who criticized Chollet because of his views on the CSM and relations with Serbia. It is important that we also have Serbs in America whose voice is now being heard," Djuric said.

He stated that his arrest in North Mitrovica had been a visible event.

"That event had a special weight for me. I don't talk too much about it, as I believe that my mission should not be focused on my personal actions. It inspires me to fight for Kosovo and Metohija, now from other positions. Do you think I forgot to inform Chollet about all those arrested and persecuted from Kosovo and Metohija? We do that every time, and we insist on it," Djuric explained.

On the occasion of his speech at Harvard University, he said that a group of students at Harvard was responsible for that.

"My participation there is the result of the fact that we have a group of talented Serbs at Harvard who wanted me to speak. Serbia was presented as a country of the future, but I spoke about the victims and everything Serbia was going through," Djuric added.

Djuric concluded that changing Serbia's image in the world was everyone's responsibility.

"We will not leave anything to chance, but will build a Serbian lobby worthy of this society's needs," Djuric stated.