Vucic: Kosovo is Serbia, was and will remain so, it does not cross my mind to accept recognition

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated this evening that Kosovo was and will always remain Serbia, adding that it does not cross his mind to accept any form of recognition of Kosovo.

Responding to a journalist’s question in Astana regarding claims that Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Duric had traveled to Washington so that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio could brief him on documents concerning the recognition of Kosovo, Vucic replied that he has no intention whatsoever of accepting any recognition, because Kosovo is Serbia.

“Marko Djuric happened to meet Marco Rubio entirely by chance, as there had been no prior plan for them to meet. He otherwise held excellent talks in the United States. It does not cross my mind to accept any recognition of Kosovo—I am not Nebojsa Vujovic… It does not cross my mind to discuss Kosovo, not with Rubio, nor even with Saint Peter. Kosovo is Serbia, was and will remain so. End of story,” Vucic emphasized, adding that Djuric had productive discussions in Washington and participated in the AIPAC conference, which is important given the significance of Serbia’s relations with the Jewish community and Israel, from which, he noted, Serbia procures many important items.

Tomorrow in Kazakhstan we sign contracts worth half a billion Euros

Vucic held talks this evening in Astana with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

“We had dinner alone—it was just the two of us—and this is the first time a foreign representative has entered President Tokayev’s residence. For me and for Serbia, this is a great honor, as is the fact that I was welcomed by the Prime Minister, and that Sukhoi fighter jets escorted us for a long stretch over Kazakh territory. This demonstrates respect for Serbia,” Vucic told reporters.

He announced that ten agreements would be signed tomorrow, which, he said, would lay the foundations for building a great house of friendship beneficial to both Serbia and Kazakhstan.

“The agreements cover various sectors. Jugoimport SDPR and several private companies engaged in the production of weapons and ammunition have already begun cooperation, including through technology transfer and other arrangements. These are major contracts, worth nearly half a billion euros,” Vucic specified.

He added that Serbia can learn much from Kazakhstan, one of the most advanced Central Asian states, noting that Central Asia appears to be once again becoming a global center—as it once was historically—since those countries, along with China and India, are among the fastest growing.

Asked how important his good personal relations with President Tokayev are, Vucic observed that there are countries with ten times the population whose leaders have not been received in Astana as he was.

“That means they value my work and my resistance to foreign pressures. They respect people who safeguard the independence, autonomy, and sovereignty of their country, because they know how difficult that is in today’s world. That is why Serbia enjoys respect worldwide,” the Serbian president said.

He particularly emphasized that President Tokayev pursues an exceptional multi-vector foreign policy.

“He maintains excellent relations with Trump, while always ensuring that Russian interests are not harmed. He has the largest trade exchange with China. At the same time, he builds relations with the United States and has visited the White House. He manages to keep everything under control in a very challenging environment. And Iran is right at his doorstep. Yet he will preserve stability,” Vucic stated.

He also conveyed that they discussed the geopolitical situation and that they are almost entirely aligned in their assessments of current global developments.

“I expect a major conflict to begin soon, and I do not expect the conflict in Ukraine to end anytime soon. I believe it will continue for a long time. I would like to be wrong, but I fear I will be right. All of this further complicates the situation, as everyone is gradually entering a dead end. This will be one of the most difficult years in the world. And I would not rule out the possibility of the use of unconventional weapons this year,” Vucic warned.