Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday he was more worried after talking to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the ideas for solving the Kosovo crisis, the news agencies reported.
Lavrov is on an official visit to Belgrade ahead of the Sunday’s elections in Serbia and meetings about the next phase of the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on the normalisation of relations which Vucic will have with the European Union envoy Miroslav Lajčák and at the With House.
“We are facing a challenging period marked by strong pressure to achieve the plans we haven’t got, but based on the Russian estimate, I realise we have to be very cautious,” Vucic told reporters after meeting with Lavrov but failed short of giving details.
Moscow seems unhappy with the US diplomatic offensive after Washington summoned Belgrade and Pristina delegations to the White House on June 27. Lavrov said Moscow was against hasty solutions, alluding to the US Presidential elections in November and the US administration alleged wish to score an international point.
Vucic added that tough time was ahead of Serbia, adding that “we have to unite in protecting our interests. It will be the most difficult time in the last 12 years after Kosovo declared independence and has been recognised by over 90 countries.”
“It’s important to understand our position and be strong enough to reject ultimatums,” Vucic said.”
If offered, he added, Serbia would refuse to recognise Kosovo’s independence and its UN membership, i.e., “that the Albanians get everything, and the Serbs nothing more than the European Union membership.”
“But, we will have to offer clear answers,” he added.
Asked if Moscow will accept a solution which will give Serbia something in return for recognising Kosovo’s independence, Lavrov says it is the question for Belgrade.
“Serbia will follow only the interests of the state and its people.”
He added that the EU had a UN mandate to mediate the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue and that it should not give up its obligations and should insist on its earlier agreed issues like the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM).
“We will support the initiatives that will help Serbia and Kosovo to reach an acceptable solution,” Lavrov said, adding it “must be in line with international law.”
“We won’t allow the revision of the WWII history or of the events in the Balkans in the 1990s,” The Russian Foreign Minister said. (N1)
