Vucevic: Nobody wants to go back to the past, neither to recognize Kosovo

Defense Minister Milos Vucevic stated that Serbia is always open to dialogue, but that its red lines are clear, namely the mandatory formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities and the non-recognition of Kosovo as another state and its membership in the United Nations.

This is how he answered the question in news TV program "Dnevnik" whether even in the situation, which is assessed as the most difficult in the last decade regarding Kosovo, there is room for a solution that would be at all acceptable for Serbia. He emphasized that no one wants to return to the past, but also that no one wants to trample on their own Constitution and recognize Kosovo.

He assessed that President Aleksandar Vucic will do everything to fulfill what he promised to the citizens when taking office, namely that he will preserve the peace and respect the Constitution of Serbia, and that he will protect and preserve the citizens of Serbia and the state of Serbia.

"The President of Serbia managed to get the subject of Kosovo and Metohija out of a deep disadvantage, from a heavy losing position, and bring it back to the negotiating table. And we must not forget that. Just as we must not forget all the suffering of the Serbian people, economic destruction of the country, the satanization we were exposed to from various sides. No one wants us to go back to the past, but no one wants to trample on their own Constitution and recognize Kosovo," Vucevic said.

He expressed his belief that the state leadership led by President Vucic will find the best solution for Serbia, to ensure state and national interests, to protect its citizens and guarantee a better future for generations to come.

Commenting on the aspirations of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to provoke conflicts between Serbia and NATO, Vucevic assessed that Kurti will continue to try to do so, and will use the most perfidious and insidious methods in order to possibly provoke a conflict, and continue to criminalize and present Serbs as "bad guys".

"You see that Serbs are still being shot at in Kosovo and Metohija, and then they are presented as the culprits and an anti-Serb campaign is launched according to the tried and tested matrix. The situation on the ground is still tense and serious, and frequent attacks and incidents against Serbs, remember that the children who were "armed" with a Christmas tree were shot, they only show how difficult the position of our people in Kosovo and Metohija is. The President of Serbia has our unreserved support to persevere in the fight for the betterment of our country," Minister Vucevic said.

When asked if there is enough unity in the ruling coalition itself, because they are talking about difficult decisions that await Serbia, Vucevic emphasized that the President of Serbia, before the formation of the new government, spoke openly about the most difficult challenges awaiting it regarding the situation in Kosovo and Metohija , and that there must be no divisions among the ministers.

On several occasions, the highest state officials have emphasized that the decision on Kosovo will not be made without the citizens, and Vucevic states that all democratic potentials will be used, and that everything will be in front of the public because, as he says, President Vucic speaks honestly and openly about the beautiful, and about less beautiful things.

"Well, even in this situation, he first appeared before the people to share with them what the "five" officials demand from Serbia, what blackmails, ultimatums, pressures they impose on us. President Vucic was ready to inform the representatives of parliamentary groups in the Parliament about all the details of that conversation, but you heard that the opposition is not interested, that they refused," Vucevic pointed out.

He added that Vucic will certainly come to the Parliament and answer all questions, as long as he has to stay there, assessing that unity should be the first precondition for any negotiation platform.

When asked how he evaluates the EP resolution, in which strong objections are sent to Serbia, and even the threat of military force is mentioned, while turning a blind eye to the attempt to form the Kosovo army, the minister says that this manuscript is well known and predictable and that every new Resolution brings a new set of pressures on Serbia.

"And not only are these pressures getting stronger every time, but those who rejoice that a noose is being put around Serbia's neck and that some in the European Parliament are openly cheering for Kurti are also getting louder. It is a fact that in the region many do not want successful and strong Serbia, they are bothered if Serbia is a leader, and that is why they look forward to some kind of resolutions in which a bunch of lies are told, and they openly cheer for the separatists. Who are the ones who welcome the request for membership in the European Union of the so-called Kosovo? And everything else they write, such as is the intensification of the dialogue process based on mutual recognition, condemnation of the illegitimate blockade, violent attacks and threats of military action by Serbia. Shameful! Shameful and shameless lies. I have no other comment," Vucevic concluded.

Vucevic also spoke about the opposition, which has different views, from condemning Vucic in advance for treason, to demanding that the Franco-German proposal be unconditionally accepted, and emphasized that "no good is expected from the self-proclaimed patriots who entered the annals of Kosovo's independence".

"This situation will be a big political purgatory. The same people who once almost "killed" all our chances by moving negotiations from the UN Security Council to Brussels are already racing to "share lessons". The same people who pardoned Kurti in 2001, allowed the March pogrom of Serbs in 2004, tacitly allowed the recognition of Kosovo's independence in 2008," Vucevic stated.