Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Đurić: Priština gambled away the status of the Brussels favorite

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić, stated today that, although there are a lot of problems at this moment in the implementation of the agreed during the Brussels dialogue, Belgrade is continuing the activities within the normalization of relations process with Priština, and announced that as early as Wednesday, he will participate in the meeting in Brussels on the implementation of the agreements reached thus far.

In an interview for Tanjug, Đurić said that Priština, with its obstruction policy and constant delaying of the implementation of key elements of the First Brussels Agreement, has practically gambled away the exclusive status of a Brussels favorite.

“It seems that for the first time since the beginning of the negotiation process, even though the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo has been recognized by some of the most influential EU member states, the burden and stigma of a brakeman in the normalization of relations process has been unequivocally transferred to Priština”, Đurić said.

When asked when could the next round of talks at the Prime Minister level within the Belgrade-Priština dialogue be held, Đurić said that like many times before, it is up to Priština to make the move, but the novelty is that Priština representatives have been made clear in Brussels that the consequences of their stalling tactics cannot fall on Belgrade and Serbia’s EU integration process.

“Belgrade is ready to carry on tomorrow where we left of in the last round of dialogue at the Prime Minister level, to finalize and formalize the agreements on telecommunications and, the most important issue for us, the Community of Serbian Municipalities”, Đurić said.

As he explained, Brussels determines the dates for the meeting, “but it is important to persuade Priština on the ground to implement what has been agreed so far, in order to have a reasonable pace in the normalization of relations process, but also in the European integration process”.

Looking back on the German Chancellor’s, Angela Merkel, visit to Belgrade, Đurić said the outcome of this visit confirms that interests of Serbia and Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija can only be preserved by rational policy that is accountable to its people and the region, and also by solid personal integrity and dedication of the people representing Belgrade in the dialogue with Priština.

He noted that the German Chancellor has, in the clearest way, expressed her respect for the policy of Serbia and announced she appreciates the constructiveness expressed by Belgrade in the Brussels dialogue with Priština.

“The willingness to compromise, which Mrs. Merkel recognized in our work, should not be identified with complaisance, because we have never compromised with key interests of Serbia and Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Đurić stressed, adding that, with such policy, Serbia has only gained respect where she needed it more and maintained it where necessary for survival.

He believes there is considerable difference between recent messages of Chancellor Merkel and the ones given in Belgrade during her recent visit.

As he said, the reason for this is that, during the last period, “thanks to well thought out and precisely guided government policy of Aleksandar Vučić, as well as responsible, consistent and constructive external and internal activities, Serbia has managed to dramatically strengthen its international credibility”.

Belgrade’s policy based on genuine concern for regional prosperity and stability, according to Đurić, has not left the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policies, Federica Mogherini, indifferent, as the mediator and guarantor of the implementation of what was agreed in Brussels.

“However, although we are glad our efforts and constructiveness are respected by key global centers of power; we will not relax and rejoice, because we know there are still some serious talks and decisions in the dialogue process with Priština. We will continue to behave responsibly towards our European partners, but above all to our own state and people”, Đurić concluded.