Vucic: In Pristina, they are talking about war, while in Belgrade, they are talking about development

In Pristina, they talk about war, while in Belgrade, the focus is exclusively on development," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated today, adding that there has been no dialogue because the other side did not want it.

"In Pristina, they talk about war, while in Belgrade, they do not talk about war. I have always talked about the development of Serbia, about how we need to change. People who want to wage war do not think about how to work and study more, how to make universities and faculties different and better. We do not like to wage war, and we do not plan to wage war. We just want to preserve our Constitution, our vital national and state interests, while respecting the Albanians, engaging in dialogue, and solving problems through discussion," Vucic said in Geneva when asked about dialogue and the mention of war in Kosovo.

He emphasized that he fears there has been no dialogue because one side did not want it, and that side, he pointed out, is not Serbian.

"I believe that circumstances will change in the future, and that someone will come to understand that everyone benefits from dialogue and compromise solutions. Solving things through threats, through ethnic cleansing of Serbs, especially from northern Kosovo, is not a serious policy and will not bring results," Vucic stressed.

When asked about the protests in Presevo, he said that Serbian authorities carefully listen to all citizens from Presevo and Bujanovac, noting all their remarks, and announced that he would soon visit that part of the country.

He pointed out, however, that the protests there are more related to the loss of power by 'pro-Kurti' forces, especially in Bujanovac.

"They do not like the Albanians who are in power, though together with Serbs in Bujanovac. Protests are a democratic issue. In our country, demonstrations, unlike in Pristina, are allowed. We have no problem when Albanians demonstrate; we carefully listen to all their remarks. I believe the most important thing is to bring a major investor, first and foremost to Bujanovac, but also to Presevo," the President of Serbia said.

Vucic reminded that he opened the maternity ward in Presevo, visited Bujanovac on several occasions, and did everything to ensure that both Serbian and Albanian villages were equally paved.

"Soon, we will renovate a school and invest a lot of money near one of the Albanian villages. We will continue to invest money, help the people who live there, and continue our shared life," Vucic added.

When asked if he had shaken hands with Albin Kurti, he replied that he had never greeted him.

"I suppose neither of us is unhappy about that, and I certainly haven't shed a single tear," Vucic emphasized.