Vucevic: Belgrade has fulfilled all the points of the Brussels Agreement; it is up to Pristina to fulfill its part

Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Defense Milos Vucevic, speaking about security challenges that are the most important at the moment, singles out "the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the increasing pressure on Serbia".

Vucevic stated for the magazine "Odbrana" that "while war is raging in Ukraine, weapons are being rattled in Kosovo and Metohija".

"That is certainly not good. The Brussels agreement, which was signed in 2013, clearly dictates what needs to be done. Its implementation is guaranteed by the European Union with its signature. Belgrade has fulfilled all the points of that agreement, it is up to Pristina to fulfill its part, and it is up to the European Union to do so. Otherwise, any similar agreement would be questionable for anyone," Vucevic said.

The Minister of Defense states that "Serbia is always in favor of dialogue and compromises, but that Serbia is no longer a punching bag".

"This shows that we are not joking. We do not threaten anyone, and we do not rattle our weapons - but we are very determined to protect Serbia and its independence and freedom. We clearly ask for respect for everything that we invest in the development of good neighborly relations, calming tensions in the Balkans, and respect for international rights and the rights of others. There are also our rights, and it is normal to expect that they will be respected, but also protected if they are threatened. That is why one of my first messages was that the Serbian Armed Forces are capable of carrying out every order of the President of the Republic. That is its basic role - to protect the country".

Referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Minister Vucevic believes that this conflict threatens the security of the entire world.

"What is happening today in the east of Europe involves the world's largest powers and there is a danger of escalation into a global war. Serbia, as a militarily neutral country, which has decided to lead a balanced foreign policy in accordance with its interests, is under great pressure and some political players in the region are trying to take advantage of that situation. An example of this is the behavior of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo and Metohija. Some would like to revise the Dayton arrangement of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the detriment of Republika Srpska. We live in a time when as a country we must be extremely strong, but also extremely wise. Preserving peace and stability for Serbia is of the greatest possible importance in order to continue economic development and enable a better life for our citizens. I believe that it is in the best interest of all people in this part of Europe to avoid conflicts and to overcome disagreements through political dialogue"

Vucevic said that "we have never, nor will we ever, attack anyone"

"We are sending a message that we are strong, we can and know how to defend ourselves, but we do not threaten anyone. Unfortunately, we belong to a small group of countries that still adhere firmly to the principles of public international law and are consistent in respecting the principles of territorial integrity and the inviolability of the borders of sovereign states. Serbia respects and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the world, therefore also of all countries in the region, and requests that, when it comes to our southern province, the same principle is respected".

Our tradition is evidence that our army has always been on the right side of history - on the side of good, which Minister Vucevic emphasizes as an integral part of the value portrait of the Serbian Armed Forces.

"No one has the right to take away from us the fact that we were always on the right side of history, kept the peace, and respected everyone's freedom. That's why we expect others to respect our right to both freedom and peace. The question arises, what does it mean to be on the right side? Fighting for freedom in the First World War, achieving great victories on one's shoulders, fighting against Fascism and Nazism in the Second World War, making huge sacrifices... All those sacrifices cannot be sacrificed again for the sake of rewriting history, or changing roles. ..We are deeply aware of the fact that only those who know and respect their past can establish themselves in the present and plan the future. This is the natural state of every human being, especially members of the Serbian Armed Forces. All our brigades and units mark their days as a sign of remembrance to their illustrious predecessors and their exploits. Those dates travel back hundreds of years. It is our vertical value. It is our history. It is a part of each of us.”