Dacic: Relations between Serbia and US on the rise, but we won't change our key positions on Kosovo and Russia

Photo: Milena Djordjevic

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic has assessed that relations between Serbia and the US are on the rise, but that there will be no change in the key positions of the Serbian leadership regarding not recognizing so-called of Kosovo and not imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation.

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Ivica Dacic spoke for RTV about so-called Kosovo joining international organizations, to say that he thinks that Pristina fundamentally does not meet the conditions to enter the Council of Europe, but has the majority of votes to do so, and therefore Serbia has no possibility to prevent it if someone does thinks it is necessary, reports Tanjug.

"We cannot prevent entry into the Council of Europe if they have a majority. The question here is whether they want it," said Dacic, noting that in such a scenario outvoting would happen for the first time in that body.

He also announced that if there is an attempt to allow Pristina to join the Council of Europe, Serbia will not participate in that.

"Why would we be providing an alibi to someone, so it would turn out we agree with it," asked Dacic.

Vucic's meeting with Chollet

Regarding today's meeting between President Aleksandar Vucic and US State Department official Derek Chollet, Dacic said that he will also participate in those talks as foreign minister, and cited the US assessment that relations between the two countries are on the rise.

He specified that this refers to issues that are not disputed by the two countries - economic, cultural, scientific cooperation, energy.

When reminded that the US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said figuratively that "Serbia will wake up one morning and realize that Kosovo is independent," Minister Dacic replied, "that's so he doesn't have to talk about who will be more surprised when they wake up one morning."

"They will understand that Kosovo is not exactly independent," said Dacic and added that Belgrade will hardly change its stance.

"We are ready for compromises and plans...," noted Dacic, repeating that there are red lines for us when it comes to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

"We won't change our position on Kosovo and Metohija or on anti-Russia sanctions"

He said that the issue of imposing sanctions against Russia is one of the two priority state issues at this time.

"The decision made at the beginning of the Russian special operation in Ukraine is still in force. We consider it wrong to violate the territorial integrity of Ukraine, but the question of (not) introducing sanctions is of Serbia's state interest," stressed the Serbian minister of foreign affairs.

According to him, "there is no crack in that position, nor is there any consideration of changing it."

He clarified that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, on the one hand, and sanctions against Russia, on the other, are like "capillary action," and asked,"Will those who seek sanctions against Russia change their attitude towards our territorial integrity?"

Dacic said that Serbia's position on the territorial integrity of countries is always the same in principle, while it changes both in the West and in the East.

(Telegraf.rs)