Srdanovic: We are open to dialogue with Pristina and resolving issues in the interest of citizens and the international community

The continuation of the dialogue on Kosovo is part of the Student List’s plan, while all agreements reached by Serbian officials within the framework of the Brussels Agreement may be reviewed for compliance with the Serbian Constitution, Student List representative Ilija Srdanovic said after the list won Sunday’s elections.

Srdanovic said that continuing the dialogue on Kosovo was one of the fundamental elements of their political plan, stressing that the entire platform for Serbia’s domestic and international relations was based on respect for the Constitution.

“Continuing the dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija is a fundamental part of the students’ plan. The entire platform for Serbia’s domestic and international relations is based on respect for the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. Therefore, the platform for talks, that is, on the future of Kosovo and Metohija, is also in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia,” Srdanovic told RFE/RL.

Asked whether this meant continuing the dialogue and fully implementing the agreements already reached, he replied that the Student List remained open to talks and to resolving issues in the interests of citizens and the international community.

“Absolutely. We remain open and leave room for open dialogue and the resolution of issues in the interest, first and foremost, of our citizens and everyone in the international community,” he said.

Speaking about the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, Srdanovic said that the future authorities would respect internationally agreed protocols, while leaving open the possibility of reviewing agreements reached in the past.

“This means that, as a responsible society and a responsible government, we will respect internationally agreed protocols going forward. All protocols agreed by our officials on behalf of Serbia may—not necessarily, but may—be reviewed to determine whether they are in compliance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia,” Srdanovic stressed.

Asked whether the Student List was prepared to hold direct talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Srdanovic said that decisions on issues of strategic importance would be made after the government was formed, since the list had not yet taken power.

Srdanovic also addressed the issue of the possible extradition of Milan Radoicic to Kosovo, saying that he could not give a definitive position on the matter at this stage.

“I cannot make that decision at this point, or give my own judgment on it, because as an individual member of a list that has not yet formed a government, I cannot do so. However, we will certainly seek to make decisions on all such issues subsequently, in accordance with the legal procedures applicable in the Republic of Serbia,” Srdanovic concluded.

He said that Serbia would continue the European integration process, announcing that domestic policy would be aligned with European standards in the areas of the rule of law, human rights, the fight against corruption, the functioning of institutions and media freedom.

“We remain on the path of European integration. Serbia committed itself to the European integration process back in 2000, 26 years ago. That work will continue,” Srdanovic said.

He said that one of the objectives was to halt the decline in public support for European integration in Serbia, arguing that over its 15 years in power, the previous government had lost 20 percentage points of public support for the process.

“Based on the same civilizational values—respect for rights and equality, anti-corruption efforts, functioning institutions and media freedom—we will fully align our domestic policy with Chapters 23 and 24, which represent the principal obstacle to further progress in the European integration process,” Srdanovic stressed.

Srdanovic said that issues of foreign policy should be subject to open dialogue among Serbian citizens.

According to him, citizens have not been sufficiently informed about what the European Union offers Serbia.

“All issues concerning international relations must be addressed through open dialogue among our citizens. They cannot be shaped by one man,” Srdanovic said.

He added that the Student List would create space for a transparent debate on foreign policy so that citizens could express their views and choose the direction they considered best for Serbia.

Asked whether this could also entail reconsidering Serbia’s position on sanctions against Russia, Srdanovic replied that Serbian citizens would decide on the issue.

“It may mean that the citizens of Serbia will certainly decide on that relationship,” he said, adding that foreign policy should be aligned with the demands and majority will of the citizens rather than determined by an individual or a narrow group of people.