Vucic: I expect tough talks, we are fighting for Serbia's position

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated that today in Granada, he had numerous discussions about important matters but that he would be able to share his impressions regarding Kosovo only after his meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. He emphasized that he expected difficult discussions because Serbia was facing hypocrisy but also expressed his determination to fight for the country's position, advocating for solutions based on reality.

Vucic, participating in the meeting of the European Political Community, told reporters that he had had numerous bilateral meetings where he had discussed many important issues.

"Tonight, I am expecting, and that's why I won't say anything about impressions yet, until I finish talks with Borrell this afternoon and with Macron tonight, as well as the Spanish Prime Minister. I also expect a conversation with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis," Vucic said.

He added that tomorrow, Kosovo would be the topic of the European Council session.

Vucic also stated that he would say more about tomorrow's European Council session after 11 PM tonight, where the situation in Kosovo had been included as a special item.

"Some will try to talk about Serbia in different ways," Vucic noted.

Regarding Rohde's statement: We attack the 'territorial integrity' of someone who is not a UN member, while you destroy the territorial integrity of Serbia – hypocrisy.

Regarding the statement made by the German Ambassador in Pristina that "what happened on September 24th was an attack on Kosovo's territorial integrity," Vucic commented that any other comment would have been more sensible, but such statements were "a bit hypocritical".

"If they had come up with something else... But to say that we are attacking the 'territorial integrity' of someone who is not a UN member, while you are destroying and undermining the territorial integrity of a country recognized by the UN Charter, with Resolution 1244 in force... It's a bit hypocritical," Vucic said.

He added that if ‘someone important’ had said this, he would respond that it was even more hypocritical to talk about an aggressor who, in reality, could not even protect the borders of the country proclaimed by the UN Charter and Resolution 1244.

"This speaks to double standards and criteria towards Serbia, but we are used to that, it's not new... It's our job to talk to everyone, to explain our country's position, and we will continue to do so," President Vucic stated.

Responding to Vjosa Osmani's statement that Serbia was an aggressor and that she would advocate for sanctions, he pointed out that Serbia was not competing and advocating for something bad to happen in Pristina or elsewhere.

"Have you heard us advocating for sanctions against Pristina? We advocate for our country, for the Serbs in Kosovo to have a normal life, for development, for more investments... While for some, life and politics are based on doing something against Serbia," Vucic said, continuing:

"Sanctions, and what? Then what? Will I have fewer political meetings? It's a story for little children... If someone cares so much, then there is a bigger problem or they are working for someone else's interest".

In response to the question of whether there has been any progress today, he answered that he hadn't had discussions with Pristina today, nor did they want to. He had simply been trying to explain Serbia's position, which he always did.

"It's neither easy nor pleasant because you can see that some friends are afraid due to the pressures they face, but we must fight. I don't promise anything, but I hope we will succeed," Vucic said.

When asked if anyone had mentioned measures against Serbia during the discussions, Vucic replied that he had spoken with many people today about various topics.

"I never hide anything from our people in any way... Tomorrow's Council session is important, so we'll see how it goes... I'll be able to make more conclusions tonight after meetings with Macron, Borrell, and others," Vucic repeated.

We never intended to attack anyone in the region.

Vucic, in response to a question from foreign journalists about whether Serbia had intentions to attack Kosovo, stated that there had been no such intentions.

"No, we had never had the intention to attack anyone in the region," Vucic emphasized.

He noted that the real question was whether the UN Charter and UN Resolutions, which were still in force, were supported, and if they were, when talking about Ukraine, why the same did not apply to Serbia.

"This is a political issue that worries the citizens of Serbia. We are a country that will preserve peace and stability, I am sure of that. We reduced the number of troops on the administrative line from 8,500 to 4,400. US and European representatives visited the administrative line today and saw it for themselves," he explained.

He reminded that a year ago when combat readiness of the Army had been raised for the last time, there had been 14,000 soldiers on the administrative line, but now there were only 8,500.

"With that number, even if we wanted something, and we didn't, we couldn't do anything," he stressed.

Vucic underlined that solutions based on reality were needed.

"We want progress in the dialogue and a compromise solution, not just presenting dreams, and then nothing happens," Vucic emphasized.

He pointed out that Serbia was interested in advancing on the European path, in economic development.

"We believe in the peace and prosperity of the entire Balkans," Vucic concluded.