Vucic: We will seek to return to the situation before February 2022

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, pointed out tonight, in Raska, at the beginning of the talks with the Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, that there was an unambiguous statement on paper that they would not persecute those who were at the barricades.

"Today we have in a completely different way in the official statement of KFOR that the Kosovo security forces cannot go to the north without the approval of KFOR and the mayor of the municipalities. We no longer have to refer to the Rasmussen-Tachi document. Now KFOR is obliged not to allow the arrival of Kosovo security forces", he explained.

"Can we believe in everything and are we sure how Kurti will behave, I am not, do I believe, I don't believe. But what else. We had difficult conversations for days and nights," Vucic added.

He said that a symbolic victory was achieved with the return of Dejan Pantic to the family.

"In the previous days, we tried to show that we exist as a people in a part of Kosovo and Metohija, where the rights of our people were threatened. I came to listen to you," he said.

Vucic said that he expects Dejan Pantic to be in his house at any moment.

He said that they asked ROSU to bring him, but KFOR would do it.

He pointed out that the citizens could see how much the representatives of the state struggled, they did not spare themselves in the conversation with foreign representatives.

"We fought all night for the word barricade to remain. And before that there were ten talks, ten days," he added.

He said that he wanted to hear from the citizens, and that he also knew that he would obtain impossible requests, but he would listen to them.

"No matter what happens, I will stay with our people. It was my choice when I ran for office, your support was important to me. I am obliged to return it even when I disagree with something," he said.

He pointed out that what was achieved was thanks to the people at the barricades.

"Albanians have been waiting for the right moment to do what they are doing to us, we should also wait for the right moment," he explained.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, pointed out tonight that Serbia would seek a return to the situation before February of this year and the withdrawal of the bases that were erected.

"Albanians make mistakes like we used to. They will drive everyone away, they don't want to build trust, but to defeat the Serbs by force. They won't talk and look for a compromise solution. We also sometimes made such mistakes and we paid dearly for them. They work much worse today and in a more difficult form. That's why we have to be patient, patient and determined as you were now," he said in a conversation with Serbs from the Kosovo and Metohija in Raska.

He said that for him it was a small tactical victory that Dejan Pantic arrived home to his family.

At the same time, Vucic said that he knew that new problems awaited us in three months. "I know what kind of madman we are dealing with in Pristina. But every day of peace that we buy, of stability, is our life and a chance for the future. I don't see an alternative to that," Vucic underlined.

He referred to the words of Zoran Todic from Leposavic, and his question, as well as that of other Serbs, why Pristina did not pass a law on amnesty, and whether we had enough Americans and Europeans as a guarantee that people would not be prosecuted for participating in the barricades.

"Do you trust Pristina more, or are we looking for a reason to be against something? I am afraid it's the latter. It turned out that we shouldn't have a lot of trust, but we need to build trust and change something in our relations with international partners. We cannot be alone," he pointed out.

Vucic recalled when he came to Mitrovica to explain the Brussels Agreement, after it was reached; indicating that he said then that we would refer to that document.

"Unfortunately for me, it happened because they were not able to fulfill it. Every international agreement served for them to use only what suits them," he added.

He pointed out that what had now been obtained in the papers did not obligate us to anything additionally.

"They can't use anything. Finally, someone listened to what the Serbs were saying," underlined Vucic.

Regarding the list, he stated that his son and brother were also on it.

Vucic said that they talked to us in Pristina about Nazism because we did not impose sanctions on Russia, and that was what those who gave Xhafer Deva 300,000 Euros to rebuild his house say.

"We used the past 10 years better than everyone else, progressed better than everyone else. Our army exists," he underlined.

In a conversation with Serbs from Kosovo, Vucic pointed out that if they remained at the barricades tomorrow, he would not be able to explain why the demands had not been met.

Vucic, reacting to the statements of Aleksandar Filipovic, the former head of the operational police in the north of Kosovo, and Slavko Simic, said that they were right in every word.

"And what do we get? If you stay at the barricades tomorrow, how are we going to explain what they had not fulfill our demands, almost everything. Then we say "we don't trust". And who are we going to talk to tomorrow? Even when you fight, you have to talk. Before we go to war, let's try to talk," he said.

He pointed out that Serbia would respond if a pogrom starts.

"I'm glad that tonight, because of your popularity, you went a step further than last night, Filipovic, but I'll ask you tomorrow if you want to bring a coffin into someone's house or I. They will hunt us like rabbits, as you say, but they can't. If they start then it's over, there is no more agreement. They would like to hunt us like rabbits, but if they start not to hunt us like rabbits, but only catch one, then there are no more rabbits, but rabbits become wolves," he said.

He pointed out that we must all behave rationally and responsibly, and not indulge our own and other people's basic passions.

"In the end, as a police officer, who was educated in Kamenica, Belgrade, who lives in Kosovo and Metohija, you have the obligation, like me, to take care of the state in addition to the neighborhood and the family," he said.

Vucic said that it was necessary to lead the country as a whole, and to always take care of the people of Kosovo.

“Did you read the papers we got? Read me one bad thing for us. Show both an obligation and a bad thing for us," he said.

Vucic said that he also knew about the heroic persecuted people south of the Ibar.

"When they arrested Braca a year ago, they knew that he was a strong leader from Sirinica parish. Arrest one, we will intervene and ask what he is accused of, if you arrest the other, we will intervene," he stressed.

He said that he heard that the Serbs had prepared conditions for him that were very difficult for Serbia.

"Just think again and tell me before the end of the evening what you get and what we get. I'm able to tell what we're getting out of this. In addition, if you refuse the request of the state, you will not be left without pensions and salary, but you have to explain to a friend, who in the worst case would be with you, you have to say what the plan is. I have a plan, I presented it and I told you," said Vucic before the beginning of the closed part of the meeting with members of the Kosovo Serb Crisis Staff.

Filipovic said that Serbs have no life while "special thugs" are in the north.

He pointed out that the southern part of Kosovo had never been and would never be the "Republic of Kosovo", and that Pristina politicians had made hostages of the policemen they sent.

"While they are in the north, we do not have and will not have any normal life. No matter what kind of guarantees they gave, everything they gave so far they trampled on, not a single letter was adhered to. If we remove the barricades, they will hunt us like rabbits," he warned.

Slavko Simic said that the Serbian people in the north were pushed into a corner, because someone was trying to trample them and push them into a hole and pit, which they would not allow.

"This problem was faced by my grandfather, my father, I and here are my children. The people want to know what our future strategy is. What steps should we take next? The people are determined to stay on the barricades, to save our hearths," Simic said.