Vucic: Kurti only accepted the entry of Serbian goods 'pro forma,' he was forced by the Germans and Americans

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated this evening that the Germans and Americans forced Albin Kurti to accept the entry of Serbian goods into Kosovo, and that Kurti only accepted it 'pro forma,' as trucks have been waiting for days to enter.

"These are mostly, of course, our products. There are also Serbian producers, but those who insisted on this and who trade the most in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija are the products of our factories, which are in foreign hands. They trade the most in our southern Serbian province," he explained.

He emphasized that the decision is good news for everyone else.

"But, one administrative crossing has been opened. It's better this way than it was, but it's far from good," Vucic stressed.

The blatant lie that there are no Serbian institutions in northern Kosovo

Commenting on the statement by Kosovo's Minister for Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, that all institutions in the north will be closed, Vucic pointed out that it is a blatant lie that there are no Serbian institutions in the north.

According to him, the most important Serbian institutions in Kosovo are functioning—healthcare and education.

"The situation is not good—of course, it isn’t, nor has it ever been, and today it is the least good. It’s the result of everything that has happened over the past few decades, as well as what occurred in 1998 and 1999. Everything after that has been our struggle to preserve our people in Kosovo and Metohija and our tough resistance to not recognize the injustice, the theft of territory, and the violation of Resolution 1244, and we continue to do so," Vucic said.

He stressed that Serbia is now investing more than ever in its people in Kosovo.

He explained that Serbia is a small country that manages to fight against the biggest Western powers when it comes to Kosovo.

"They all recognized Kosovo's independence not in 2018 or 2024, but in 2008. Don’t make me remind you how all the stories about license plates and everything else were signed in 2011," the president reminded.

Vucic also noted that he has participated in more meetings regarding Kosovo than anyone else over the past 12 years and knows how difficult those discussions are, but that he will never give up the fight for Kosovo and for compromise solutions.

"No one in the world has participated in meetings as much as I have. It's a tough and challenging battle to preserve anything Serbian in Kosovo and Metohija, while everyone else claims to know better... And if someone from the opposition knows better—go ahead. Just don't let those who led to Montenegro’s secession from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia talk to me about this... Those who told us 'standards before status,' that Kosovo is a democratic issue, and then in 2008 said that there’s nothing to be done about standards before status, and who hid when Kosovo declared unilateral independence. I will not be blamed for that, but I will fight to the end, as long as I have any influence, until the last moment, for Kosovo and Metohija in Serbia, for compromise, and not for imposed solutions," Vucic said.

Kurti will not form the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM)

When asked about the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM) and the observation that he is pessimistic about it, Vucic responded:

"I'm not a pessimist, I'm just realistic. Kurti will not form the CSM."

He pointed out that the solution for the Serbian people in Kosovo is a politically and economically strong Serbia.

"A stronger Serbia, even more powerful economically and politically, a different geopolitical situation, a different understanding of the circumstances, and a return to the basic principles of the UN Charter," Vucic said.

He announced that the measures he previously discussed regarding Kosovo will be presented to the parliament on October 28th or 29th.

"These measures will be presented on October 28th, when the 45-day deadline expires, and we will go to the National Assembly," said the President of Serbia.

If we recognized Kosovo and imposed sanctions on Russia, we would be in the EU tomorrow

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated this evening, in regard to the country’s European integration, that he is aware it is progressing slowly, but he also pointed out that, although it may seem the reason is the rule of law, Serbia would already be a member of the Union tomorrow if it recognized Kosovo and imposed sanctions on Russia.

Responding to the observation that European integration seems "stalled," Vucic told RTS that he cannot fully agree with that, but admitted that the process is slow.

"Whenever you think it’s due to the rule of law, I’ll tell you – it’s not. If we recognized the independence of Kosovo and imposed sanctions on Russia, we’d be a member of the EU tomorrow, immediately," Vucic believes.

At the BRICS summit, Serbia will be represented by Vulin, Gasic, Mesarovic, and Popovic

Vucic conveyed that Russian President Vladimir Putin invited him to the BRICS summit in Kazan, but he explained Serbia’s position, and as a result, a four-member delegation will represent the country at the event.

He emphasized that he told Putin that Serbia is the only country in Europe that hasn’t imposed sanctions on Russia, which, as he said, the Russian president greatly appreciates.

He stressed that he personally cannot attend the BRICS Summit, as important global officials are set to visit Serbia.

"On Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is coming, and visits from Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ursula von der Leyen are also scheduled," Vucic noted.

Vucic highlighted that he knew he would have a conversation with Putin, but he did not want to announce it to the media.

"That conversation is an expression of the utmost respect, responsibility, and seriousness of a country," Vucic stated.

He announced that Serbia will be represented at the BRICS summit at the ministerial level.

According to him, Serbia will be represented in Kazan by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic, Economy Minister Adrijana Mesarovic, and Minister without portfolio Nenad Popovic.

Speaking about the BRICS summit and Serbia's participation, Vucic reminded that Serbia made its decisions regarding the EU a long time ago.

However, as he says, people in Serbia are "fed up with hypocritical attitudes and statements."

"This has been going on for a long time, and people are tired of it. They are tired of hearing about Ukraine's territorial integrity, while there is no interest in Serbia's territorial integrity. And when they come to talk about Kosovo and Metohija, people cannot tolerate this level of hypocrisy and untruths," Vucic pointed out.

He noted that people in Serbia are not entirely sure what BRICS really means.

"They’ve heard that these are some other countries in the world that blackmail us less, but they don’t know that there are no real mechanisms in place and that it doesn’t function like the EU. Whether that will change in the future is another matter, and I don’t rule out that possibility. Here, the level of popularity is 42 against 42 at the national level," Vucic explained.

Vucic stated that the debate about BRICS in Serbia will take place in about two years, if that organization manages to fill its mechanisms with real substance.

"If, through even cryptocurrencies, they manage to achieve certain successes in establishing a common or unified means of payment—because achieving a common currency is impossible—then that will certainly be a lower level of unity than in the EU," the President of Serbia assessed.

After talking with Putin, he spoke with Macron, O'Brien, and Eichhorst inquired about the conversation with Putin

Vucic pointed out that he is one of the few leaders in the world who dares to speak with the President of Russia.

He conveyed that after his conversation with Putin, he received a sudden call from French President Emmanuel Macron, as a gesture of friendship.

He also recalled that on Sunday afternoon, he spoke with James O'Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, and Angelina Eichhorst, the Executive Director for Europe at the European External Action Service.

He added that the conversation lasted five and a half hours, and that O'Brien and Eichhorst asked him about his conversation with Putin.

"Of course, they ask me about the conversation with Putin and what I think. Putin, regarding what we call a war, and they call a special military operation, said he is convinced that it will be successfully completed. He told me that he considers the Ukrainian decision to enter the Kursk region a huge mistake, where he believes Ukraine's best brigades are suffering enormous losses," Vucic relayed.

He added that everyone in Russia knows that when Aleksandar Vucic or someone who succeeds his policies is no longer there, Russia will no longer be present in Serbia.

Proud of the Serbian people in Montenegro, Serbia will not exert pressure

Vucic said that Serbia has good relations with Montenegro, and has never done anything to harm them.

"They are our partners, and we will continue to cooperate as closely as possible," the President of Serbia emphasized.

He pointed out that the number of Serbs in Montenegro, according to the recent census, increased from 28.6% to 32.93%, and that the Serbian language is dominant in that country.

He said he laughed when he saw in the Montenegrin media that a certain politician, from a party that, as Vucic added, is not particularly reputable nor pro-Serbian, stated that Serbian should be made the official language in Montenegro, and was attacked for it, as if he had asked for Swahili to become the official language.

Vucic stressed that there is a fierce campaign being waged against Serbia and the Serbian people, and that only those who are against Serbs are seen as "democrats and trendy."

"But, Serbs know what their task is. It is important that they have preserved their national identity. I am proud of the Serbian people in Montenegro. We will not exert any pressure. Our job is to push our country forward. The stronger Serbia is, the stronger the Serbian people will be, and they will feel greater support from their homeland," Vucic emphasized.

On the U.S. elections

Speaking about the U.S. elections, Vucic said that he is not sure they can change much for Serbia.

He pointed out that the majority of citizens in Serbia support one candidate, but that it is pointless for the state to take such a position, as Serbia has good communication with both Donald Trump's camp and Kamala Harris' camp.

In Harris' camp, he recalled, is Bill Burns, with whom he recently had an excellent conversation and who could play an important role in that administration.

"I don’t think the U.S. elections can change much. I think I know who would win at this moment, but I can't say who will ultimately win, as there is still a lot of time left. I believe that Trump has recently run a very successful campaign. However, I think he will lose in the overall popular vote," President Vucic stated.