Vucic: Strange format of the meeting in Athens; they invited Pristina, but they do not recognize Kosovo

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the format of the meeting, which he would attend this evening in Athens, at the invitation of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was very strange and announced that he would also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the following day.

"Five countries from the Western Balkans were invited, but how, by whom and in what way, due to some of their bilateral relations... Some were not invited for strange reasons, and Pristina was invited, although Greece does not officially recognize Kosovo, and will even (Albin Kurti) have a bilateral meeting in the Athens offices with the Greek Prime Minister," Vucic said in a statement to journalists in Athens.

He reported that the Croats were invited, as he said, "I guess as great experts and friends of everyone in the Western Balkans", as well as Bulgarians and Romanians, while, he noted that Hungary had not received an invitation.

Vucic spoke with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, indicating that the conversation had been very good, serious, and responsible.

"We talked about important infrastructure projects, first of all, I asked the EU to help us speed up the construction of the Belgrade-Nis high-speed railway, but also about strategic cooperation between the EU and Serbia in the field of green energy, mining, and all important political issues, such as dialogue," Vucic explained.

He said that soon, in a short period, he expected the arrival of the EU Envoy for Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, in Belgrade.

He said that he had discussed other topics with von der Leyen, one of which had been Serbia's relationship with Russia.

"All topics were on the table. We had a very fair and good conversation," Vucic added.

Tomorrow before noon with Zelenskyy, at the request of the Ukrainian President

Vucic also announced that he would meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy tomorrow, at the request of the Ukrainian President.

"We will talk in private, and about everything that happened regarding Kosovo, recognition, non-recognition, and all other issues," the President of Serbia said.

Vucic pointed out that the situation for Serbia was "not the easiest", but that it was the same when he went to European Council meetings and all other gatherings.

"It is up to us to fight for Serbia, for its European future, but not to give up national and state interests, which will be increasingly difficult in the coming period," he emphasized, announcing that he would address the citizens in this regard.

He pointed out that Serbia was in such a position because “he wanted and still wants’ the country to lead an independent and responsible policy.

"If I were a lapdog, a political dwarf like many in Europe - we would not have any problem at such a meeting. It is a question of choice - if you want to create problems for yourself without the country functioning. The question is whether you want to serve someone else or your own people. I chose what is most important for our people, to serve my people. Such a policy cannot be conducted by many bigger and stronger countries than us. And some little Vucic from some small Serbia chose the path of freedom, independence," Vucic said.

The citizens, he says, elected him to fight for the country and for the least harm to his people, which he does.

"Just to clarify for the idiots in Serbia who are talking nonsense... You have terrible pressure from the outside, you are being pressured by people who have no idea about anything other than complying with every decision, move, and order from abroad, because they only care about the lower part of their backs, and my job is to take care of the country and citizens, which I will continue to do tonight," Vucic said.

In response to the statement that, out of all the countries represented at the meeting, only Serbia did not impose sanctions on Russia, Vucic said that he was aware of this, because everyone had their own choice, and pointed out that Serbia was on the European path, because that was the best for the citizens.

"Even after the meeting with Zelenskyy, you know that there were statements by their MPs, from the ruling party, namely the head of the Foreign Policy Committee, they are in favor of Kyiv recognizing Kosovo; that would be a big blow for us. I will try to talk to Zelenskyy..." Vucic said and added that there was no doubt that Russia would be the main topic.

There were, he reminds, informal acts, which Serbia did not sign, but he points out that he has no problem repeating the wording from the United Nations:

"And whoever violated international law and committed an invasion, we are ready to say that we agree, but that there are things that Serbia cannot agree to".

He points out that he knows that this will be the main topic tonight in Athens.

"I will repeat the position of Serbia, the National Security Council. Everything else - we respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and we hope that it will also respect the integrity of Serbia, whether Russia has violated international public law - is obvious, but when it comes to sanctions and accusations of who 'ad hominem' committed the crimes, I will not participate in that until I see that the country is in an extremely difficult situation. And then I will say so, and I still do not see that the country is facing an extremely difficult situation,” Vucic said.

He added that normally he had known that Zelensky would attend the meeting in Athens, but that he had not talked about it, because the Greek Prime Minister had asked him to, in order not to jeopardize the security of the Ukrainian President.

“Having hypocrisy everywhere in the world is one thing, but we have the worst hypocrites in the country. This is not against me, my job is to walk the thorny and difficult path so that our people would walk the easier path," Vucic said.