Vučić: Reconciliation between Albanians and Serbs is Kosovo’s goal

Adriana Lima
By Adriana Lima 9 Min Read
origin 1Serbia and Kosovo are set to meet again this weekend to discuss the final points of a possible deal brokered by the European Union. ©euronews

Serbia and Kosovo are set to meet again this weekend to discuss the final points of a possible deal brokered by the European Union.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić told RockedBuzz via Euronews the ultimate goal of the talks was for Albanians and Serbs “both from Kosovo, but also Albanians and Serbs from an entire region” to live together.

Sergio Cantone, RockedBuzz via Euronews: Mr. President, thank you for joining us. First question, you are about to open a new round of talks with your Kosovar counterpart. What’s your red line?

Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia: I don’t talk about red lines very often, because if you talk too much about red lines, there is no real negotiation and the other side will just insist on these red lines. And it is more important to properly discuss the issue, which means trying to find compromise solutions.

euronews: One such previous agreement is the Association of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo…

Aleksandar Vucic: Yes exactly.

euronews: What are you asking. But apparently the Kosovar government is not ready to give in, or at least is there a difference of view on the way or method?

Aleksandar Vucic: The problem is that we signed it in 2013 and 2015. And these are: the implementation plan, the principles, the management team and, of course, the first agreement. These four arrangements. We have everything already signed and also signed by the representatives of the European Union and it must be handed over. But that’s not the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to bring Albanians and Serbs from both Kosovo, but also Albanians and Serbs from an entire region, to live together, to live much better and to respect each other.

euronews: The problem for the Kosovars is that they are afraid – that’s what they say, of course – is to create the conditions for a new type of Republika Srpska in Kosovo. Republika Srpska, I remind our viewers, is this Serbian republic in Bosnia.

Aleksandar Vucic: It is not true. It is a Serbian republic, it is not Serbian. But still, you’re right, because we hear this kind of platitude on a daily basis. There was something that was – and still is – written. And it’s signed. And that has to be delivered. Otherwise, international public law does not exist.

euronews: Apparently, the current Kosovar government would like to have more sovereignty over its own territory… what it considers to be its own territory… which has been recognized by many countries.

Aleksandar Vucic: From many countries. But not by international public law. But now I insist on reconciliation, real reconciliation: not always trying to humiliate the other party, but to find a compromise solution for both.

euronews: Does reconciliation pass through not mutual recognition, but a mutual set of concessions?

Aleksandar Vucic: YES

euronews: So, the Association of Serbian Municipalities is one, which should be in favor of Serbia, as you said to implement, but it was already agreed…

Aleksandar Vucic: Reconciliation also requires many concessions from the Serbian side”. That is: many provisions on customs stamps, customs seals, original representations, diplomas, documents, professional matters, plates and so on.

euronews: The problem is above all to understand where is the point regarding the autonomy of a Serb community living in Kosovo: education…

Aleksandar Vucic: Education, health care, land use planning, rural and urban planning, economic development – ​​all of which have been outlined and detailed within the already agreed principles.

euronews: Would you be able to establish a clear line of separation between the concept of autonomy and that of self-determination?

Aleksandar Vucic: Why did some people give, approve or accept the right to self-determination for some people and for some nations and why not give it to others? And we will stand firmly on it. And Serbia is the country that has attracted 62% of total foreign direct investment in the Western Balkans.

euronews: Mr. President, but this kind of economic miracle of Serbia is also based on, shall we say, a moderate price of gas that comes from Russia…

Aleksandar Vucic: Only partially, yes.

euronews: And the European Union is calling on Serbia to mobilize for sanctions.

Aleksandar Vucic: Speaking of the price of gas, I believe we have a good price and a booming economy. Last year… for the last three years, we were one of the five fastest growing economies in all of Europe.

euronews: Because, as you said, the price of your energy is lower than in other countries and this could be a problem for you if you were to mobilize for European Union sanctions against Russia.

Aleksandar Vucic: But that’s not the only problem. And you know, I was reading and hearing thousands of false accusations against Serbia about ruining regional peace and stability and “Serbia will attack Bosnia, Serbia will attack Pristina, Serbia will attack that and that”.

It happened? No, he didn’t. There were some tensions in the north of Kosovo and what I wanted to say to our people many times and I repeat it here: we had a very professional relationship and a very good, responsible and serious relationship with NATO, we will continue like this. And I was very satisfied with it.

euronews: President Putin intertwined the Kosovo issue with a few other issues, first in Crimea and then also in Donbass.

Aleksandar Vucic: Is this a question for me or for some Western leaders? Because he found a precedent. But our reaction was different, just to let you know, we said, “We support the UN charter, and that’s why Crimea and all other parts of Ukraine belong to Ukraine.” This was our answer. Just to be fair to your viewers.

euronews: Would you be willing to make any concessions to your Kosovar counterpart regarding membership of the Council of Europe?

Aleksandar Vucic: They have already started that procedure for the Council of Europe without asking Serbia. And they don’t need Serbia for this. But there is a regulation… and that plan proposed by the Germans and the French on international organizations. And they got my answer. So I said it face to face with Macron and Scholz.

euronews: The UN? The United Nations is too early to tell, because China and Russia have a say.

Aleksandar Vucic: This is not about China or Russia. I think it concerns Serbia more than China and Russia. I discussed it with Macron and Scholz.

euronews: AND… ?

Aleksandar Vucic: And with everyone else.

euronews: And what was the…?

Aleksandar Vucic: We discussed red lines at the beginning of our interview.

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