Vucic: The goal of the West is for Serbia to recognize Kosovo, dialogue is expected next week

2023-10-22 13:12:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Vucic: The goal of the West is for Serbia to recognize Kosovo, dialogue is

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said on Sunday that the "only goal" of the West is the recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia and that he expects the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue to continue towards the end of next week in Brussels.

Vucic made these statements during a public address on Pink television on Sunday morning, a day after he met in Belgrade with five Western diplomats.

He repeated that yesterday's meeting was "difficult" for him and that he could not give more details.

"Obviously, everything about Kosovo is very difficult for us. People think that this is only because of Banjska, but it is not so. For us it was terrible from a tactical point of view and produced certain consequences, but from a strategic point of view, their only goal is for us to recognize Kosovo", said Vu?i?.

Serbia has denied Kosovo's accusations that it tried to "annex the north of Kosovo" when a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police on September 24 in the village of Banjské in Zveçan, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku.

After the meeting with Vu?i?, the special representative of the European Union for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Laj?ak, reiterated that the attackers of the Kosovo police in Banjska must be brought to justice and that the incident must be thoroughly investigated, as well as asked Serbia to cooperate in this matter.

Western emissaries asked Pristina and Belgrade during Saturday's meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina, and Serbian President Vucic in Belgrade, to normalize relations and implement the Agreement towards normalization.

Lajcak said that the escalation of the situation and the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia are more urgent than ever before.

Lajçak stated in Pristina that he and four other diplomats visited Pristina and Belgrade with a plan.

Asked if pressure is expected, Vu?i? said that the countries of the West have their own policies and attitudes which "are completely opposite to our attitude".

"We have to understand that reality. The United States will not change its position, Germany will not change its position," said Vucic.

Meanwhile, Kosovar Prime Minister Kurti emphasized after the meeting on Saturday with the diplomatic five that the main priority and urgent issues for Kosovo are the security of the state and citizens, borders and territory.

"After the terrorist and criminal attack of September 24, carried out by paramilitary groups with the sponsorship and participation of Serbia, punishment is decisive for non-repetition", Kurti said.

Regarding the dialogue, he emphasized that "qualitative reflection and a new approach are necessary"./ REL