Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Vučić: The recognition of self-proclaimed Kosovo will not happen

Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vučić, said today that, when it comes to Belgrade’s position, recognition of self-proclaimed Kosovo “will not happen”.

Answering the question of Albanian journalists when will he come to an official visit to Priština, Vučić said he is asked the same question every time, referring to a question of when will Serbia recognize the self-proclaimed Kosovo.

“Serbian Prime Minister is visiting different parts of Kosovo. I will visit the Monastery of Gračanica again, as well as Laplje Selo, Kosovo Polje, I will talk to people. I am always ready to talk to Albanians also”, Vučić said.

At the journalist’s remark that the inauguration of the Kosovo president will take place on Friday and that Vučić could come to an official visit to Priština, the Prime Minister of Serbia answered that this will not happen, “nor will it happen for long”.

Commenting that after the upcoming elections in Serbia someone from the opposition could become the Prime Minister and would recognize Kosovo, Vučić answered that Albanians can only dream about it.

“Maybe your dreams come true. I have nothing against that, you can hope, maybe that happens for you, but I wouldn’t bet on it much”, Vučić said.

Asked by journalist to comment on the statement of the provincial Prime Minister Isa Mustafa that he does not wish to talk to Belgrade about state property of Kosovo and Metohija, Vučić said that Serbia wants to talk and that the result of talks and agreements is always better than unilateral decisions.

“Speaking of state property, if Mustafa can show me here in Banjska a peace of stone he invested in, show me that stone, because I can show you stones I invested in, then I would be able to think about his position”, Vučić said.

Asked when the Community of Serbian Municipalities will be established, Vučić said that it is important to first respect the Brussels Agreement.

Pointing out that he believes Priština will meet its obligations, the Prime Minister recalled that the Brussels Agreement and other agreements were signed by Kosovo officials.

“When I put down my signature, then it means something will be fulfilled. We are keeping our word, let alone signatures. I believe that the international community will respect themselves because they mediated the dialogue, and we signed the four agreements on August 25 in their presence”, Vučić stressed.

He added that it is on the government in Priština to make a decision on when it will respect what it signed itself.

“We want them to do it as soon as possible, but we cannot take any steps, because it is their responsibility, not ours”, Vučić said.

The Prime Minister asked why have they taken part in talks and signed agreements if the Constitutional Court can block this.

“When I take part in talks, I represent the Government of Serbia, and it goes without saying that what we signed we will fulfill, and if we negotiate with someone and then that signature has no value, why have we wasted time, went to Brussels, agreed on something, and then you say the deal is off”, Vučić asked.

The Prime Minister said Serbia will not “cry” over Priština’s position, but will have a solution for its people.