Vucic: Considering options to lift EU punitive measures on Pristina is not fair

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, emphasized today that the current EU policy regarding the abolishment of the dinar in Kosovo is that neither side, neither Belgrade nor Pristina, are ready for compromise, even though the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo was made unilaterally and unlawfully. Therefore, they are considering lifting punitive measures against Kosovo.

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated today that it is not fair to consider the option of lifting EU sanctions against Pristina.

"The EU has initiated a mechanism to lift sanctions they haven't even seen. Just look at this disgusting trick they constantly use: Albanians make an unlawful decision to abolish the dinar, and when Serbs refuse to accept it, they (the EU) say there is no consensus and readiness for compromise," emphasized the President of Serbia.

He noted that everything the West does to Serbia is pointless and insolent, but Serbia will continue to fight.

"The mighty world can do what they want, but for 16 years now, a small country has been fighting for its land and territory, and it will continue to do so," Vucic said.

Vucic also referred to the UN Security Council session discussing the UNMIK report on Kosovo, noting that the session was delayed because "someone with a conscience didn't want to let them in," referring to the Kosovar delegation.

"The Security Council session was delayed because someone with a conscience didn't want to let them in, and then there was a phone call, but no one from Serbia called, neither did anyone from Bangladesh or Peru, and you can think about where someone could have called from and said 'let them in,'" Vucic stressed.

He pointed out that Vjosa Osmani lied when she claimed that the women who came with her to the session were members of her cabinet.

One of Pristina's lies, as he noted, is that no one has ever been convicted of crimes against Albanians.

"This has little to do with justice and international law," he said.

He emphasized that numerous talks held by the Serbian delegation have made many in the world aware that, regardless of how they vote in the General Assembly on the genocide resolution, it has little to do with justice and international law.

"Our situation is difficult, and no matter how much we work and struggle every day, I wouldn't say it's easier, because all the others who are much more powerful and stronger than us are making significant efforts to blackmail, diplomatically speaking, 'convince' all the others who are not convinced to vote for the resolution to stay in good relations with them," he explained in a statement to reporters.

Vucic thanked the team fighting for Serbia, as well as Vuk Jeremic, whom he said worked tirelessly.

"We had several bilateral meetings. Marko Đuric will stay in New York, and I will see if I will join. There are still about twenty countries, especially in the Pacific, from Palau to Papua New Guinea, left. In any case, there is still a lot of work to be done to try to fight and emerge from all this with our heads held high and upright. And then we will focus on the progress of Serbia," he emphasized.

He stressed that some of the talks will be visible during the voting, while others will be seen in future bilateral relations.

When asked how Serbia can resist blackmail and pressure, Vucic said it is difficult, but Serbia is fighting because that is all it can do.

He reported that last night in New York, the Serbian delegation met with representatives of five European countries, which he considers friendly and countries that can be expected not to vote as ordered.

"We continue the talks today, and we will continue further. As soon as I return to Belgrade, I will make a plan either to come back to New York or to act in Serbia, to invite representatives of Latin American, African, and Asia-Pacific countries to present Serbia's position. We can do that," President Vucic said.

He pointed out that Serbia has caused "great nervousness" to many in the UN, to the extent that they say the UN has never been in such disorder, and it's "not clear what is happening before the voting on the resolution on May 2nd than it is now."

"We have managed to complicate things a bit, although aware that we cannot win. When America raises an eyebrow, 70 of them go to vote…," Vucic remarked.

However, this time, Americans were not the "ringleaders," but rather Germans.

"The Germans have taken over the main role in leading the campaign in the UN and beyond…," said the President of Serbia, adding that the Germans made it clear that there would be no delay in the resolution debate.

Asked how well his interlocutors were acquainted with the situation and with what is written in the draft resolution, he said that "it's uncomfortable for everyone," even representatives of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan understand the geopolitical moment and Serbia's position, as well as why pressure is being exerted right now.

He reported that South Africa proposed an amendment to make everything in the resolution apply to Gaza as well, which he said will not be accepted.

"The game is big, it's all bubbling in the UN," Vucic added.

He noted that representatives of Serbia are fighting and working diligently at the UN Mission.

"We are doing everything we can, more than realistic... If today in Vienna, Americans and Germans are counting their votes against Serbia, if they are making a list for pressure - that tells you something. Do you know when they would do that if Serbia hadn't done a good job here?" Vucic said, adding that you can always lose, but what matters is how hard you fought.

"Whenever there is something in our region, when you refuse to accept someone's blackmail, you are a destabilizing factor. When you protect the interests of your people, you become their problem. I have become the biggest problem because I won't let them trample on Serbia and the Serbs. They are willing to violate the Dayton Agreement in the most terrible way," he explained when asked to comment on some journalists' remarks from the region about diplomatic activities and his statements in New York.

Vucic emphasized that even Americans know that this is a brutal violation of the Dayton Agreement, which is why they let the Germans, who don't care about it, take over.

He reminded that the consent of all three peoples and all three members of the B&H Presidency is necessary.

"When you tell them that, headlines appear everywhere saying 'Vucic's dangerous threats,' or 'Vucic says the Dayton Agreement is being violated.' You wonder if they're crazy or if they have some other problem. The essence is, whatever we do, unless we repeat their nonsense about our own people, we will always be bad and a destabilizing factor. If we were to give up Kosovo and Metohija, RS, our independence, and sovereignty, I would have won three Nobel Prizes. Since we won't, we're the worst in the world. But it's much easier for me to be the worst in the world," he concluded.