Vucic: It won't be easy in Brussels; they're knocking on Belgrade's open doors

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic emphasized tonight that tomorrow in Brussels he would have talks with EU leaders and hoped that these discussions would take place in an atmosphere of compromise, creating opportunities for hope and the future, as well as the survival of the Serbs in Kosovo.

Vucic, speaking to RTS, stated that he would meet with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the Union, Josep Borrell, the EU Special Representative for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, as well as the big three - French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"There will be six of them. We have received the agenda, and it will only be me on our side," he explained.

Asked about the proposal that the "EU five" brought to Belgrade, he said he could not reveal the details.

"They have brought their proposal regarding the formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. We have given our responses and suggestions. I can't reveal the details. We are ready to discuss it. They are knocking on open doors when it comes to Belgrade," Vucic stressed.

He pointed out that there are other issues, such as the 2011 agreement where Serbia was accused of not fulfilling issues related to customs seals, energy, license plates, and many other things.

"I have been very constructive and fair. We will see tomorrow. I hope the talks will take place in an atmosphere of compromise, creating opportunities for hope and the future, and the survival of our people in Kosovo and Metohija. It will not be easy; there is no doubt about it. There are no nice meetings or things here. I do not hide that I can't wait to return from Brussels to Belgrade. But my job is to protect the citizens of our country, to do everything we can to preserve the rights and security of the Serbs in Kosovo, but also the development of Serbia," Vucic emphasized.

In Pristina, they say that the CSM is not and will not be a topic – then what is the topic?

In response to the statement that during the afternoon in Pristina, it was said that Kurti had accepted the plan of the five, Vucic replied that it was not quite so because the devil's in the detail, and in Pristina, they had stated that they "accepted it as a basis".

"Konjufca immediately after him said that the CSM was not and would not be a topic. I don't know what will be the topic then. Because they don't want to be the culprits, even though it is clear to everyone in Europe who doesn't want dialogue and the CSM," Vucic said.

He pointed out that they would use Banjska to equalize the blame or to blame Serbia for something, just like they did in the 1990s.

"But I don't think European leaders can be blind and deaf to Kurti's attempts never to form the CSM," Vucic emphasized.

When asked if he expected the date of elections in northern Kosovo to be on the agenda, he replied in the negative.

"They have played many tricks. They have the support of some countries. And it is such a process that even if citizens write a petition, months will pass, and they will find countless reasons to reject them," the President of Serbia said.

Therefore, he reiterated, that the days to come would not be easy, but the previous ones had been much harder.

"I want to reassure the citizens, to let them know that they have a responsible, serious, honest, and strong leadership that fights for Serbia's interests, and we will make the best decisions. And we will succeed in defending Serbia and its interests, in political, economic, and every other aspect," Vucic said.

When asked how the events in Banjska would complicate Serbia's position, he replied that the situation in Belgrade had been drastically complicated due to the situation on September 24. Both Albanians and some in the international community, as well as the domestic factor, had greeted the events in Banjska "as a gift from heaven".

The position was indeed more challenging, but Vucic emphasized that even if there had been no Banjska, there would be something else.

"Whatever we do, in the end, they have recognized Kosovo, and they will never withdraw that decision. They will seek a way to persuade Serbia to de facto or de jure recognize Kosovo. But 15 years after the declaration of Kosovo's independence, which was recognized by 85 countries in almost a week, we are still sailing with our Serbian ship, constitution, and state, despite all the problems and hardships. No one wants war. I think people know that we fight strongly but protect the future and our economy," Vucic said.

He stated that there were 550,000 more employed people in Serbia today than in 2012, which meant that Belgrade had something to lose, and that was known in Europe and the US.

"We must not lose it, but we must not lose what is guaranteed by the Constitution either", Vucic emphasized.

Next week, elections will be announced for December 17

Vucic also stated that parliamentary, local, and provincial elections would be held on December 17 and that next week, he would announce parliamentary elections, with the Speaker of the National Assembly doing so for more than 60 local self-governing units.

According to the President, provincial elections will also be announced for December 17.

"I see that everyone has started to compete for every vote, this is a part of the political democratic process, whether we like it or not," the President said.

Vucic announced that pensioners would receive a 5.5% increase for the month of October in a few days, followed by one-time assistance of 20,000 Serbian dinars.

According to him, the state is looking for ways to provide additional assistance to pensioners with the lowest pensions, which is one of the reasons to expedite pension increases.

He also states that a way will be found to provide social assistance recipients with what they are entitled to before the end of the year, with a long-term plan not to increase the number of social assistance recipients.

Regarding salaries in the public sector, Vucic said that the minimum wage was increasing and would soon be over 47,000 dinars, which, as he noted, would have been the average salary ten years ago.

"There will be a double-digit salary increase in the public sector," the President said.

Great pressure on the Kosovo issue

Vucic emphasized that since coming to power, he had faced significant problems. Firstly, as he said, he had taken over the leadership of the country where 500,000 people had lost their jobs, public debt had been growing and destroying the possibility of economic growth, and he was now facing tremendous pressure on the Kosovo issue.

"You have to take care of your population, the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and you know what kind of external pressures exist, as the most powerful Western countries have recognized the independence of Kosovo, and they will not give up on that and will continue with their demands," Vucic said.

He said that his priority as the President of Serbia, as well as previously as the Prime Minister, was to take care of his citizens and listen to their voices. He expressed satisfaction that Leskovac had received a new mammogram device and that a new Amber Alert system had been launched, increasing child safety.

"What is more valuable to us than the lives of our mothers, wives, grandmothers... What is more precious than our women? Nothing. Let's solve this; it costs us so little, just like building 10 to 15 kilometers of road," Vucic stated.

Speaking about the Amber Alert application, which was launched today, the President noted that Serbia had built more than 1,400 bridges, which he considered a significant number, but one child's life was more valuable than bridges.

He explained that infrastructure projects had contributed to increasing the safety of Serbian citizens.

"We will never know exactly how many lives we have saved with modern roads and airports; it is not easy to commit a crime or kidnap a child when we have those," he said.