Vucic: Plenkovic told me that the military alliance of Zagreb, Pristina and Tirana is not directed against Serbia

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated today that in New Delhi he held talks with numerous officials on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence Summit, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Vucic conveyed that Plenkovic told him the military alliance of Zagreb, Pristina and Tirana is not directed against Serbia.

“I also spoke with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, and for the first time on the topic of the military alliance between Pristina, Tirana and Zagreb. It would not be fair to say everything, but in one sentence I can say that Plenkovic stated that it is not directed against Serbia. Anything further I might say would go beyond the bounds of proper and courteous conduct and would violate the principles of good faith and rational discussion appropriate to such an occasion,” Vucic told journalists.

He noted that he had a lengthy conversation, nearly 45 minutes, with French President Emmanuel Macron.

“We discussed all important issues in Europe, Serbia’s European path, matters of strategic importance for the country, and analyzed the geopolitical situation. I heard Emmanuel Macron’s views and gained a clear understanding of how he believes developments will unfold,” the Serbian president said.

He added that he also met with other leaders, including the Prime Minister of Finland, the President of Estonia, the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Greece, and that he held his longest meeting with Slovak President, his friend Peter Pellegrini. He also discussed key future global issues with leaders from Asian countries such as Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Asked about remarks by the Croatian prime minister regarding the military alliance of Croatia, Albania and Kosovo, and claims that it had been established to prepare Pristina’s accession to NATO, Vucic replied that this has nothing to do with it.

“As far as the military alliance is concerned, what I think remains the same as yesterday and the day before, but out of courtesy I did not say what I think, because then I would have to allow Plenkovic to respond, and we would turn it into an argument. As for NATO membership… As if major preparations were required for accession. Why were they not admitted? Are major preparations necessary? Please, do not joke. Montenegro was highly prepared for NATO membership, as was North Macedonia,” Vucic remarked.

He pointed out that, according to American index rankings, the Kosovo army is stronger than those two (Montenegro and North Macedonia), yet it has not been admitted because four NATO member states do not recognize Kosovo.

He emphasized that NATO can carry out an admission whenever it chooses, as it does not, in his view, adhere to the international legal order. If it did, he said, it would never have attacked Serbia.

“Just do not lecture us about respect for principles, the rights of peoples, the UN Charter, and territorial integrity,” Vucic stated.

Commenting on the statement that EU membership without veto rights would be acceptable for Serbia, Vucic said that anything related to establishing a single market and a borderless space is always acceptable and of primary importance to Serbia, since otherwise one can wait five, ten or twenty years, and it remains uncertain whether anyone will join at all.

“In that case, we would all benefit. Europe is moving toward a multi-speed structure. We want access to the single market, a borderless area and other advantages. It is certainly better than receiving nothing. However, the question is whether we will obtain even that,” the Serbian president noted, adding that Albania and others have expressed similar views.

He announced that he would hold another strategic discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron within a month or two, and added that he expects visits from the foreign ministers of Italy and Germany in April.