Vucevic: The international mediators did not offer us anything pleasant

Minister of Defense Milos Vucevic said that in yesterday's conversation with President Vucic, the international mediators not only reiterated the Franco-German platform for further talks but also presented the consequences of not accepting the agreement proposal, RTS reports.

"What was presented to the president, as I understood it in yesterday's conversation that I attended, the president informed the patriarch and many bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church about some information or what was current during yesterday's day, was nothing pleasant or sounding good for the Serbia citizens. There are big challenges ahead of us. Nothing nice is being offered to us, and difficult decisions are expected, the way they see it should be made in terms of formulating that agreement with some perspectives that should convince us that a better future awaits us," Vucevic said.

He repeated that nothing too good was heard from the international "five" but that it did not mean that "we have surrendered or given up on something".

When asked if there was an ultimatum on the table, Vucevic stated that the president very precisely said that he was presented and that he received data and information about what could happen if Serbia is not cooperative enough.

"I assume that they presented negative political and economic consequences for Serbia. Let's be clear, they have the goal that Pristina at least get a seat in the United Nations if we do not officially recognize it as an independent territory, i.e., what they define as Kosovo, and we define it as the province of Kosovo and Metohija. It's a process that should be completed, as seen by the representatives who visited Belgrade yesterday," Vucevic stated.

He added that it was good that we heard from yesterday's guests in the talks with President Vucic that no country and the international community saw the frozen conflict as something that should last indefinitely, and that after ten years we heard again that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities is something which must be formed.

"Yesterday was a festive day for many families due to the celebration of St. John's day, but it was very difficult for Serbia and most for the President of the Republic. Those conversations and the manner of conversations he had first with the of Germany's ambassadors from the region, and then with the ''five'', is not to be desired or envied that he had to do all this or participate or carry on his back, because it is a huge pressure. I saw him yesterday, he was burdened and in a bad mood, but he is determined to defend Serbia," Vucevic said.

He added that many saw it as a regular thing but that everything that was put on the table in front of Serbia was not very favorable for our country.

"It is important to achieve consensus because it is a matter of destiny of our country"

The President of Serbia announced that he would talk with members of the Government, Parliament, and the social sector. Vucevic assessed that it was very important to reach a consensus because it was a matter of our country's fate.

"It is a matter of the fate of our country's territory part, it is a matter of the fate of a part of our country's citizens and all the citizens of our country. It is not only a matter of the present – it is primarily a matter of the future of our country and all its citizens. It would be correct, useful, and expedient for us to have a minimum consensus in terms of politics and state interests regarding Kosovo and Metohija and the overall future of the state of Serbia. I don't know if that will be achieved, but for me, it is a good and politically justifiable, and logical thing for the president to invite all those who are decision-makers in some segments or are representatives of citizens or simply participate in some public discourse to express themselves or to be familiar with what is in front of Serbia, so that someone from a salon, apartment, coffee shop or on social networks doesn't say that he thinks it should be done differently, without them having the opportunity to hear what is happening," Vucevic pointed out.

He added that last night he told the president that, as far as the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army were concerned, they gave him unreserved support for all efforts and his political struggle to preserve the state and protect state interests.

"Because one man is exposed to pressure, because the whole country is exposed to pressure, and they are breaking one man, and that pressure was not only yesterday, but all that was happening in the past days and weeks, and all that was as some kind of barrage or preparation for this political offensive. Attacks on families, discredit, lies in the media, everything that is being done to discourage someone, to somehow discredit him politically and humanly, is a preparation to weaken someone in every sense before such a round of talks that he started," Vucevic pointed out.

He reiterated that he gave his full support and that it was not a question of idolatry or a narrative that was implied for formal reasons, but because difficult days and political battles were ahead of Serbia for real, and that it was time for everyone to stand in that front line to protect the state.