Zeman: I understand those who chant “Kosovo is Serbia”

Former President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman stated, in his address at a reception hosted by the Embassy of Serbia in Prague on the occasion of Serbia’s Statehood Day, that he understands those who chant “Kosovo is Serbia,” recalling his earlier apology for the NATO aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Zeman emphasized that he was pleased to accept the invitation of the Ambassador of Serbia to the Czech Republic, Berislav Vekic, and his spouse to attend the celebration of Serbia’s Statehood Day.

“This important holiday marks the beginning of modern Serbian statehood, namely the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising against Ottoman rule in 1804 and the adoption of Serbia’s first modern constitution in 1835.

In my introductory remarks, I recalled my public apology for NATO’s aggression against the then Yugoslavia in 1999. I delivered that apology during the visit of my friend Aleksandar Vučić to Prague in 2021. On that occasion, the President of the Republic of Serbia and I also exchanged our countries’ highest decorations, symbolically affirming the strong friendship and commitment to cooperation between the Czech and Serbian peoples,” Zeman wrote on Facebook.

The former Czech president added that he also touched upon what he described as the sensitive issue of Kosovo.

“As President of the Republic, I refused to appoint a Czech ambassador to Kosovo, and I understand those who chant ‘Kosovo is Serbia.’ I also referred to other words traditionally associated with the emblem of the Kingdom of Serbia and the Republic of Serbia: ‘Only unity saves the Serbs.’ I wish you, my Serbian friends, all the best on the occasion of your country’s Statehood Day,” Zeman stated last night at the celebration.