Vucevic: We are not a threat to anyone; we recognize the territorial sovereignty and integrity of all internationally recognized states

Serbian Minister of Defense, Milos Vucevic, said today that Serbia's position was complex and challenging, but firm in terms of libertarian and independent politics, RTV reports.

"Serbia's policy is to preserve peace and stability in the region. Nobody is threatened by us. We recognize the territorial sovereignty and integrity of all internationally recognized states. We also recognize their peoples, languages, flags, and all the attributes of their statehood. Serbia remains committed to the European path, but also the preservation of traditional friendships and the preservation of regional peace and stability, because this is a prerequisite for the progress of all peoples living in this area," Vucevic told Tanjug.

Commenting on the meeting of the leaders of the Western Balkans in Athens, which was attended by EU representatives as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vucevic added that there had been many bilateral meetings in Athens and that security, economic, and energy challenges had been discussed, as well as the relationship between Ukraine and Greece according to the recognition of so-called Kosovo.

"Greece Prime Minister Mitsotakis confirmed to President Vucic that Greece would not change its policy in relation to Kosovo and Metohija, that is, the territorial integrity of Serbia," Vucevic said.

He added that the Greeks had organized the meeting well and that they had not used the labels Serbia or Kosovo, but Belgrade and Pristina.

"Of course, the meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy was an opportunity for Serbia to emphasize that it respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine, starting from the fundamental right that belongs to all states, including Serbia, on the inviolability of borders," Vucevic pointed out.

He also emphasized that Zelenskyy had confirmed Ukraine's position that it would not make decisions that would violate the territorial integrity of Serbia.

"Ukraine has never done anything bad to Serbia. It did not participate in the 1999 aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and did not recognize the independence of Kosovo. Just as Serbia did nothing against Ukraine. And that must be respected," Vucevic said.

He pointed out that the messages from Athens were very important for Serbia and that this was the success of Serbian diplomacy and the result of President Vucic's good policy.

He emphasized that the meeting between Vucic and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Budapest was also very important because Turkey was at the very least a regional power and a country that had significant influence in all Balkan countries.

"Serbia has a national interest in having good relations with Turkey. And I think it is a good thing for Serbia that Erdogan won the elections, no matter how much we disagree on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, but he is one man who instills confidence that Turkey will lead, regarding us, a balanced policy," Vucevic said.

Vucevic added that the "historical friendship" between Serbia and Hungary had also been confirmed at the meeting in Budapest.

"We are not aware of how much of a success this is for Serbia. We completely turned the situation around with our northern neighbor. Historically, we had very difficult periods with Hungary. We both made mistakes and did bad things to each other. Today we got to a point when Hungary is almost the best collaborator of Serbia," Vucevic said and emphasized that he came from Novi Sad and that 20 or 30 years ago this kind of relationship between the two countries had almost been unimaginable.

He pointed out that the greatest credit for that went to President Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.