Vucic: Kurti wanted a conflict between Serbia and NATO, rational arguments do not pass, I have said what is unacceptable

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has said tonight that the situation today is more difficult than ever regarding Kosovo, because there is a lot of nervousness, since Europe is de facto at war, and it wants things to be as they want in their backyard.

In his address to the citizens, Vucic explained that everyone had the opportunity in the previous days to see in different media the first version, which does not differ much from the second, of the so-called Franco-German plan, which is no longer a Franco-German plan.

"I'm afraid that no one wanted to talk about the context, the circumstances and what Serbia is facing. When you look at a paper, you can easily find it. And it is always more than easy to find countless objections. It's not easy to find anything to be enthusiastic about this paper. On the contrary," he explained.

Great nervousness, Europe is de facto at war

Vucic said that he had participated in numerous talks about Kosovo, and that the last one had been the most difficult for him.

"It never looked like this. The question is why, what is it that makes the difference today. The fact is that the geopolitical circumstances have changed. There is great nervousness; Europe is de facto at war, no matter what they say. There is no tolerance for any kind of political outburst. They want it in their backyard, and the Western Balkans and Serbia are their backyard, and they want everything to be there as they want," he explained.

President Vucic also said that the answer to the question of what contributed to the sharp approach and sense of urgency of European officials supported by Washington was that the complete regional-European context was such that, after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, it became one of the biggest problems for Serbia.

"First of all, because we are on everyone's radar, because we did not impose sanctions on Russia, and then because of the constant incidents that the Kurti regime caused, wanting to provoke us to enter the conflict and to blame Serbia," Vucic pointed out.

He added that 288 incidents were recorded during Kurti's time, and 10 serious incidents this year alone, the last of which was today's wounding of Miljan Delevic, to whom he wished a speedy recovery.

"They are looking for a conflict because they want NATO to enter into a conflict with Serbia, so that Kurti can avoid the obligation, to form the CSM. That's the whole tactic," Vucic said.

For them we are to be blamed

The president pointed out that Belgrade underlined every day that Serbs were not allowed to vote in the elections, in the referendum, that Serbian children were shot, just because of Christmas.

But all that, he pointed out, cannot change the fact that all the foreigners were more upset that Rada Trajkovic sat on a bench for two hours than that the children were wounded.

"We have to understand that they condemned Serbia for the barricades, and they didn't want to hear why the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija did it. For them we are to be blamed because the barricades caused instability, not the arrest of Serbs, harassment, bullying, attacks on Serbs, deprivation of rights. That is their vision," Vucic said.

The President of Serbia pointed out that in the conversation with the representatives of the major powers, he saw that no one wants to listen, that they have their own agenda, which is the defeat of Russia, and in that agenda that everything that gets in the way must be cleared.

Vucic said that he is worried that there is no longer any rational approach to solving the problem.

"I saw that in the conversation with the representatives of the biggest powers. Whatever I said based on facts, papers, and presented to them, I realized that the time for reason has expired. No one wants to listen to me, me and not only me, no one from us. They have their own agenda, which is the defeat of Russia, and in that agenda everything that gets in the way will be cleared," explained Vucic.

Rational arguments no longer work

Vucic emphasized that when he said that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities must be formed first, because it is something that is part of the Brussels Agreement, and it has not been fulfilled for 10 years, they, he said, told him to "see that this is not realistic".

"It is not realistic, you have committed to push it to the end, and one side will not fulfill it. Then you simply see that no objective, rational arguments will pass anymore. And when I speak about this, I speak because I know what will happen", he pointed out.

Vucic emphasized that Serbia wants compromise, talks, dialogue.

"We want to show a constructive approach. Both sides have to make concessions, we understood that, but the problem is when you see that one side can do anything they want and is rewarded for it. All were unilateral actions of the Kurti’s regime, and they were rewarded visa-free regime for it, acceptance of requests for the EU, entry into the Council of Europe. They were rewarded for all of them by the same countries, telling us all the time that Kurti is the one causing problems, but always blaming Serbia in their media and documents," he said.

Vucic stated that Serbia did not participate in the creation of the Kosovo plan in any way and no one consulted it about anything, but that plan was only served to it and put on paper.

"Without any fault of Serbia, we have not done anything to anyone, not a single Albanian has been shot anywhere, we have not attacked anyone anywhere, we have not done anything anywhere," Vucic said.

He said that they came and showed the plan and then on December 13, all member countries accepted that plan, even five non-recognizing countries accepted it, because they "explained" to them that there is no explicit recognition of Kosovo's independence in the plan itself.

"Even though they concealed the fact that there is an implicit obligation not to oppose Kosovo's entry into the United Nations, they accepted it and thus that plan became de facto, it is still not formal, but de facto it became a new negotiating framework for Serbia," he said.

He explained that there is no progress for our country if we do not work in Europe, nor is it possible to do anything if we do not cooperate in this matter.

List of threatened measures

"The five officials came with a new negotiating framework based on the Franco-German plan and in the second sentence they told me that we have to accept it, because if we don't accept it, certain measures will follow. This means: stopping the European integration process; stopping and then withdrawing investments; comprehensive political and economic measures that will harm Serbia," President Vucic said.

He added that those threats were repeated three times during the conversation and that he reacted strongly each time.

He added that all EU members accepted that plan, including the five countries that did not recognize Kosovo, because it was explained to them that there was no recognition in the plan.

Vucic emphasized that this plan was presented as a new negotiating framework for Serbia's accession to the EU.

"So that you wouldn't tell me that Serbia accepted something that it didn't, I clearly said what was unacceptable for Serbia," Vucic said.

He added that he would take on himself the weight of further decisions, but also emphasized that negotiations with Pristina must continue and that as many compromise solutions as possible should be found.

"We cannot prepare for their entry into the Council of Europe and NATO, and it was mentioned at the meeting. I said that they would not get applause for something like that," said the President of Serbia.

We can talk about raising the level of trust between us and the Albanians and how to build a position for some long-term peace with the Albanians, Vucic pointed out.

A necessary conversation within society

Vucic reported that he had a very difficult and tense discussion with the "western five officials", adding that he was worried because there is one thing, and everyone, he says, knows what they are talking about, for which he expressed more than concern and reservations, because he understood that they would not give up on that.

"You saw that I left the meeting, in a half-shock, because I realized that nothing is important anymore, no arguments, because no one wants to hear us. And we will have to face that," Vucic said.

This is why a conversation must be started within society, said the President of Serbia.

"Would I have been able to say at one point - get out, we're not going to talk? I could have, but if people knew what the consequences would be. And they would be the breaking of the visa-free regime with the EU, for which everyone would accuse me and the government, that we are guilty, even though none of us did anything wrong, except that we are fighting with all our hearts as much as we can for Kosovo and Metohija", Vucic pointed out .

He warned that another consequence would be the absence and withdrawal of investments from Serbia.

"I am asking all the smart people I see every day in the media, even those with a national frequency, who are irresponsible, and who tell us every day that investors will not leave, because they have a calculation, they are making a profit here. Well, 99 percent of companies left Russia in 15 days", Vucic pointed out.

Serbia must participate in the conversation, to continue the European path

He also asked what Serbia would look like without foreign investments, and just when it was put back on its feet.

"Today, we have 8.2 billion Euros in trade exchange with Germany, on an annual basis, and when I became Prime Minister it was a little over two billion. In addition, from that, we pay for salaries and pensions. Not to mention what it would mean to us if the country was isolated," Vucic said.

He said that Serbia must talk, participate in dialogue, and continue the European path.

"Not because I adore their hypocrisy regarding respect for the UN Charter and Resolution 1244, but because we would be politically and economically lonely without it. And I would not agree to lead the country in such a way," Vucic said and added that there is a plan that we work much harder and stronger in the future, to work, talk with Albanians, Europeans, on all issues.

He told the Serbian people to trust the state leadership.

"We didn't even sign anything, we're just faced with the facts, but we have to understand that it's important to try to find a compromise," Vucic said.

He added that nothing would happen today, nor in a month or three, and that when there were final demands, the Parliament, citizens, and perhaps other institutions would make a statement about it.

"And, to those worried supposedly great patriots, and voluntary donors of other people's blood, let me say that I was strong enough to say in the face of the big five officials what it is that I am going to take on myself, and about what I express reservations," Vucic said.

I will respect the Constitution of Serbia

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said that it was not in the Franco-German plan that Kosovo would be admitted to NATO and the Council of Europe, but that this was what he was told at the meeting with international delegates.

Vucic, answering the question, whether the plan mentions Kosovo's entry into NATO and the Council of Europe as a possibility, as well as the entry into the UN, regardless of what we say, underlined that the plan did not mention it.

"That is not mentioned, nor is membership in the UN, except that it is said that we will not prevent them from entering international organizations. We cannot prevent Kosovo's entry into the Council of Europe, because we do not have a majority there, and we will fight. We cannot prevent entry into NATO because we are not a member. It doesn't say anything about all that, but that's all I was told," he said.

As for the UN, he said it was a different story.

"This means that I will be very concerned about it. And when I say that I will be concerned, it means that I will respect the Constitution of Serbia," Vucic said.

He asked the critics what their policy was, except saying that he is a big traitor, although it is not his plan, he did not take part in its creation.

"Vucic did nothing here, neither good nor bad, except that he had terrible conversations," he stressed.

He pointed out that those who attack him should go to Kacanik for one night and show the people how much they love him, instead of skiing in Slovenia and traveling.

"How can I betray something that you put on a plate in 2008, and I managed to bring it back into the spotlight of the European and world public," he said in response to claims that he was a traitor.

In this connection, he also mentioned the claims that he would impose sanctions on Russia on April 3 last year, which he did not do for more than 330 days.

I am a soldier of the state

Vucic pointed out that he is a soldier of the state, and that if there is a need to save the state in any way and buy some time, he would not hesitate to do so.

"I don't think that any person is too important for a country. We are all mortal and we know for what period we can be elected. It is my last mandate. I know what my duty is, and if there is a need to save the country in any way and buy time for a while, I wouldn't shy away from it. This is not yet the moment, but I have no problem with it," Vucic said, answering the question of whether his resignation was an option.

Vucic emphasized that some are starting from themselves when they say that "government is everything to Vucic", pointing out that, unlike them, he does not have millions and real estate, but that he lives for the state and is a soldier of the state.

"I will do what is in the state's interest at a certain moment. I have no problem with that," he underlined.

He indicated that he is worried and afraid that the situation in Ukraine will continue to deteriorate and that the conflicts will expand.

"It will only continue to spread. This is not only Russia-Ukraine and little aid, it has already spread. Soon it will spread to other territories, and it is up to us not to have it on our territory. In such conditions, such demands will only be stronger and placed more sharply in front of Serbia", he emphasized.

He said that Serbia is facing a difficult period.

"There is no doubt that the war in Ukraine brought us a great misfortune, that when they talk about our region, they are guided by what is happening in Ukraine. However, I think the question is what they can offer, because what I was facing two days was a stick", he emphasized in connection with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's writing that the EU has nothing to offer Belgrade and Pristina.

They came with a stick, but...

At the same time, he pointed out that one must be fair and say that the EU is the biggest investor and the biggest donor in Serbia and the region.

"We will receive a 600 million Euros grant from the EU for the Belgrade-Nis high-speed rail line. Our highway is full and it will be fuller, so the salvation will be in the train," he added.

Vucic said that they "came with a stick", but that he believes that there will be better and better news in the future.

"I asked for different things and help and support from the EU," he added.

At the end, he especially greeted the Serbian people in Kosovo, saying that they guard the Serbian hearths, and that they trust him and the state.

"It's not just a question of where you are and how many natural resources you have, but what the state leadership is like," Vucic underlined.