Nikolic: Macinka said what other foreign ministers may also be thinking

The Chair of the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija, Danijela Nikolic, stated today that the issue of Kosovo is a “matter of the highest priority” for Serbia, as it is also “a constitutionally guaranteed part of our territory,” RTV reported.

“Since 2012, under the strong diplomatic leadership and sound policies of President Aleksandar Vučic, nearly 30 countries have withdrawn recognition of that so-called state,” Nikolic said for TV Prva.

She noted that there had been pressure and that many countries recognized Kosovo in 2008, but that numerous governments and foreign ministers avoid saying publicly what they think—that it is a Serbian issue and that recognizing it was a mistake.

“The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petr Macinka, said what other foreign ministers may also be thinking. As someone from Kosovo and Metohija, who was born, raised, and lives there, I can say that the question of whether we could remain as a people was never even raised among ordinary citizens. The crisis was caused by others—a third factor, the international community,” Nikolic said, as reported by Tanjug.

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka stated a few days ago that the Czech Republic had recognized Kosovo’s independence nearly 20 years ago under a certain degree of pressure and could have acted more cautiously. However, he added that no “theatrical gestures” would be made now, and that the best solution for all would be one agreed upon by Serbs and Albanians.

Speaking in Prague after talks with Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Macinka identified as key figures behind the Czech government’s decision at the time—despite strong opposition from then-President Václav Klaus—the then Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.