Vucic: Pristina demands de jure recognition, clear that Kurti does not want formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic emphasized that there was no dialogue yesterday because Pristina does not want it. He stated that Pristina demanded de jure recognition from Serbia and added that it is completely clear that Albin Kurti does not want to form the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).

"I said yesterday whether he didn’t want to, didn’t dare, or didn’t wish to, that’s more or less his business, but the dialogue didn’t happen because they don’t want it. They are not only seeking de facto but also de jure recognition. That is what they demanded and wanted," Vucic stressed for Pink.

He said that Kurti did not want to talk, while the Serbian delegation wanted to discuss every agreement, seeking compromises to resolve problems.

"But I knew well before that they are not ready for that, and they are not interested in such things," he emphasized.

He pointed out that the persecution of Serbs has become a daily occurrence, that the international community is aware of this, but remains silent because they do not know what to do with Kurti.

"Serbs are being arrested at every turn. When we detained one person for two hours, who is suspected of war crimes against Serbs, keeping him in a bus for three hours, the entire international community reacted, and numerous European MPs called," he noted.

Regarding the dialogue, he emphasized that there is nothing new, nor will there be anything new soon.

"It is completely clear that Kurti does not want to form the CSM. It is important to preserve peace and composure, and to peacefully seek the best solutions for further economic development of Serbia, strengthening Serbia in every sphere of social life," he explained.

Vucic said he does not believe there will be a serious dialogue soon, for which Serbia is ready, but Pristina is not.

Expected outcome of voting in the Spanish Parliament

The Spanish parliament today rejected the initiative of some Catalan parties for Madrid to recognize Kosovo. Vucic noted that this outcome was expected and thanked Spain for its principled stance on the issue of Kosovo’s independence.

He pointed out that the vote in the Spanish parliament on Kosovo is proof of how much Spain fears separatism.

"An expected decision, and thanks to our Spanish friends, they have shown that they are friends and respect international public law," said the President of Serbia.

Vidovdan, a special day, we must respect the past and develop the country

Tomorrow marks Vidovdan, and Vucic says it is a special, sacred day for Serbs because of everything, both good and bad, that has happened in the past.

"From Gazimestan in 1389, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand by Serbian hero Gavrilo Princip, the adoption of the Vidovdan Constitution in 1921, when for the first time we could say that Serbs live in one state... then the downfall of the Karađorđevic dynasty, the assassination of King Alexander in 1934," Vucic said, also recalling Slobodan Milosevic’s speech at Gazimestan on June 28, 1989.

On the other hand, on that date, Milosevic was extradited to The Hague Tribunal.

"That disgrace Serbia will not be able to erase for many decades and centuries," Vucic remarked.

He stated that Serbia must develop, move forward, respect the past, learn from mistakes, but everyone must understand that by pandering to and serving foreign interests, we will never gain anything.

"We have the right to serve only our people. When you think that serving foreign interests will reward you, remember where and how those who thought that ended up. Their fate was not good," said the President of Serbia.

I do not expect the Montenegrin Parliament to adopt the Jasenovac Resolution

The President of the Montenegrin Parliament, Andrija Mandic, has proposed that tomorrow the parliament discusses the Draft Resolution on the Genocide in Jasenovac. Vucic said he does not expect that resolution to be adopted.

"I hear they are complaining about pressure from Belgrade... They lie. I have never called them, asked, or demanded anything. I did not mention the Jasenovac resolution, they did in Podgorica when they could not justify voting for the Srebrenica Resolution in the UN," Vucic said.

Therefore, he says, he does not expect the adoption of that document.

"If they adopt the resolution, I will say - 'sorry, my assessment was wrong'," added the President of Serbia.

Funds from the Growth Plan are significant, but reforms for attracting investors are more important

Vucic also said that the funds within the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are not "small money" and that amount is respectable, but it is not decisive for a country like Serbia.

"That might be decisive money for someone five or ten times smaller, but certainly not for Serbia. What is much more important for us is what I discussed with Charles Michel, which is for them to tell us what we need to do regarding the four pillars. I talked about this with Kopman and Commissioner Várhelyi, and how to approach solving other problems on the path to a unified green market – from green corridors and the single European payment area to abolishing customs conventions to attract investors," Vucic stated.

He emphasized that the reforms being implemented by Serbia will attract new investors and enable a better standard of living for citizens.

"Will we succeed by the end of the year? I believe we will. There are many not-so-easy reforms in state aid and public procurement. There is another detail we are working on, and I believe that next week we will be able to carry it out," the President concluded.