Vucic: I do not expect substantial changes in KFOR’s strength, I urge them to protect Serbs

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that he does not expect any substantial changes in the strength of KFOR, despite announcements that the United States plans to adjust its contribution to the NATO-led mission, and expressed hope that KFOR will continue to safeguard Serbian religious sites and the Serbian population in Kosovo.

Speaking to journalists in Tbilisi, Vucic said that it is quite certain that the United States will reduce the presence of its troops within KFOR, but that other countries will maintain their troop levels.

“In essence, nothing will change. I have asked KFOR and NATO to ensure the safety of the Serbian population, although that security does not truly exist because Pristina continues to find ways to harass Serbs,” the Serbian President emphasized, commenting on the announcement regarding the adjustment of the U.S. contribution to KFOR.

He stated that he had requested that, to the extent possible, they ensure the protection of Serbian religious sites and the Serbian people, particularly in northern Kosovo but also in other Serbian enclaves, where, as he put it, “Kurti’s regime continues to mistreat them.”

“I hope that, to a certain extent and within the limits of its mandate, KFOR will do so in the period ahead,” Vucic underlined.

I Expect Washington to Grant Us a Final 15-Day Extension for NIS

Vucic also expressed his expectation that the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will extend the operational license of the Naftna Industrija Srbije and prolong the deadline for negotiations regarding the sale of the Russian stake in the company, which expires today, but added that this would likely be the final 15-day extension.

Earlier today, Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic signed a Shareholders’ Agreement with MOL Group concerning the future management of NIS. The agreement, previously approved by the Government of Serbia, would enable the continued development of NIS, the supply of the Serbian market, and the operation of the refinery in Pancevo should MOL Group successfully become the majority owner.

“I expect that we will receive another 15 days, and that this will be the last 15-day extension from Washington. My contacts indicate that this is what will happen today; that is the information I have received from Washington. Another 15 days is a very short period, and I hope that the Russian side will accept the agreement. Whether they will or not remains to be seen,” Vucic said.

On Marta Kos’s Remarks: We Should Approach Them Rationally

Commenting on the statement by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos that future EU member states could lose the right to exercise a national veto in certain key areas for more than 15 years after accession under new “safeguard clauses,” Vucic said that she had not actually used the word “veto,” but that her remarks should nevertheless be approached rationally, neither with praise nor criticism.

“The translation was not entirely fair to her. She mentioned 15 years, but also ten and five years, to be completely fair, although everyone knows what I think of her. My comment would differ from that of many others. I have seen that Ukrainians and some others are unhappy. My reaction would not be harsh—not because I do not know what some people think of us, but precisely because I do. Had they wanted to admit all of us more quickly, they could have done so five, seven, or ten years ago. Of course, they did not want to, but someone should have understood that and not misled the citizens. I do not mislead them; I tell them what reality is. And if there is one thing I would thank her for, it is that she confronted others with reality,” Vucic said.

He stressed that Serbia’s interest lies in having open borders in the Balkans and with the European Union and in becoming part of the single market, although that also requires fulfilling all necessary conditions, including alignment with the EU’s foreign policy.

“Now that they have told us how things stand, this provides us with somewhat greater freedom in our conduct and in our relations with others,” Vucic added.

He added that it is necessary to understand the situation and carefully examine the findings of the G7, as well as the developments in the Persian Gulf, because, in his view, things will never be the same again.

“No one will be able to say that the major powers defeated Iran, because that is simply not true. I do not believe there are any winners, but Iran has not been defeated, and that is a fact that everyone should take into account. We must understand what is happening in the Far East, where tensions are even more pronounced. The war between Russia and Ukraine is nowhere near its end.

There are numerous problems, yet everyone seems focused solely on arms fairs and military equipment,” Vucic pointed out.

For that reason, he said, the remarks made by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos should be approached rationally, neither with praise nor criticism.

“We have taken her remarks into account. We understand that there will be first-tier members and second-tier members. That is fine. We need to focus on our own interests, because countries that may initially belong to the second tier could, within a few years, become first-tier members. What we need is patience and a rational approach—to continue working with Europe while seeking what is optimal for us,” Vucic said.