Vucic after Brdo–Brijuni Summit: The European path is strategic for all of us; there were disagreements with Osmani

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated today, after the Brdo–Brijuni Process Summit in Durres, that the participants reaffirmed the European path of the Western Balkans, which he described as strategic for everyone in the region. He added that there were disagreements during the plenary session with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, to whom he said he wished many more tourist visits like her recent trip to New York during the UN General Assembly.

“We had a plenary session where we confirmed the European path of the Western Balkans. There were disagreements between me and Osmani. Here, no one goes by state titles, only by names, and that is a good legacy of this process. But I spoke about that kind of hypocrisy and double standards, where each of us tries to gain something at someone else’s expense, while there is very little of a common approach to solving problems in the Western Balkans,” Vucic said.

He added that the summit participants agreed to continue working together on the European path, which is strategic for everyone.

When asked whether there was discussion about the possibility of a global conflict, something he had warned about before, Vucic said that the talks mainly focused on territorial integrity, which, as he noted, “everyone interprets however they want.”

“Just imagine Vjosa Osmani talking about protecting territorial integrity… It turns your stomach upside down, and yet everyone nods their heads and acts like she said something smart,” Vucic said.

He added ironically that they recalled her “tourist days” at the United Nations, alluding to the fact that during her recent stay in New York she had no official bilateral meetings with anyone from the US administration.

“I wished her many more tourist experiences in life. We’ll continue with that,” the Serbian president added.

Vucic told reporters that, on the sidelines of the summit, he spent the most time in conversation with Zeljka Cvijanovic.

He also announced that the next Brdo–Brijuni Process meeting will be held in Croatia.

Asked about former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statement that Poland and the Baltic states bear responsibility for the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Russia and the EU and for the Russian invasion, Vucic said that the issue is very complex, but that it was interesting why Merkel had chosen to say that now.

“If she had remained chancellor, I believe there would have been no conflict between Russia and Ukraine. She always knew the cost of war and conflict and would have tirelessly fought at every moment to prevent it,” Vucic said.

According to him, Merkel’s statement shows the complexity of the problem, as well as that blame never lies entirely on one side, and that it is necessary to understand and listen to all sides, something which is missing in the modern world.

When asked about opposition criticism and calls to explain why he was invited to a meeting in New York with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vucic replied that they discussed three topics – sanctions on NIS, strategic dialogue, and regional relations, including relations between Serbia and Pristina, as well as the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He said he also briefly mentioned the murder of Charlie Kirk and the EU, “in two sentences.”

“I have great respect for Marco Rubio, and he showed great respect for me,” Vucic emphasized, adding that anyone claiming he was ‘summoned for a scolding’ is lying.