Dacic on Kurti's compulsory military service: They violated UN Resolution 1244 a long time ago

The announcement by the prime minister of the provisional Pristina institutions, Albin Kurti, that military service will be compulsory, as well as of investments in defense, has caused strong reactions among the public. Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic says he believes Kurti would represent a kind of continuity of the one-sided moves that Pristina is making, and that is already showing.

"They have long ago violated what is said in (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244. We have repeatedly insisted on this. Even international factors have reacted to the formation of the Kosovo army, but have not reversed that decision. It will take a long time to gauge Kurti's real intentions. What is the difference between what he was saying during the campaign and what he's doing now. I think it will be a kind of continuity of those one-sided moves that Pristina is making. That he will continue with some moves that will destabilize the situation, that is, not lead towards a solution, any kind of compromise that could be reached," said the minister of foreign affairs.

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He stressed today that many people are now surprised and openly unhappy that America is getting involved, along with, say, Germany and France - while the EU keeps on the sidelines.

"On the other hand, you also heard the president say that some countries asked Pristina to introduce taxes (on Serbian goods). It all shows how much everyone has their own angle. (Richard) Grenell is quite clearly doing this, (looking for) a compromise solution. The US has changed its approach, it allows some compromise solution to be reached. If this was during past administrations, it would have been a closed topic," he said.

About his trip to China

Dacic says that he plans to make an official visit to China, is seriously considering how he would from return from that country given the coronavirus outbreak and the quarantine for everyone returning from the endangered areas.

He said it was not only a question of how to go to China, considering the suspension of flights to that country, but that an even more difficult question is how to return from China, given that the quarantine lasts 14 days.

"The procedure for calling (Serbian) elections will begin on March 4. Imagine me being in isolation and no one there to sign the list for participation in the elections," Dacic said.

When the host remarked it would look like his party was boycotting the vote, Dacic jokingly replied that this was something to keep in mind. The minister said that he wanted to go to China via the UAE, but that they canceled flights.

"It's very difficult to return. I want go, I just need to figure out how," said Dacic.

He said he was due to travel to China in early January at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, but that the visit has been postponed due to the Chinese minister's obligations.

He also stressed the importance of visiting China at this moment as an indicator of relations with that country. Dacic added that Chinese companies are flying everywhere and that these flights are not banned, but that other countries have suspended their flights to China.

Video: This is how Albanians imagine the army of the so-called state of Kosovo

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)