Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Sports associations have joined the internal dialogue

At the sixth meeting of the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, initiated by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, concerning possible solutions to this issue, the representatives of sports organizations expressed their opinions today.

Representatives of sports associations pointed out that the Government of Serbia made a recommendation on how athletes and organizations from Serbia should behave in the occasions when they are the organizers of international competitions, and when they are competing abroad against the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo.

They asked from the government to upgrade the current recommendations and clearly state how they should behave during competitions abroad or as organizers of international competitions.

The Director of the Judo Association of Serbia, Dragan Atanasov, said that a recommendation exists but it is not binding and needs to be improved.

“That is a recommendation, not an obligation. This document should be upgraded, it should be a decision of the government and binging for all of us”, Atanasov said.

He added that Serbia wishes to run for the European Judo Championship in 2020 and there should be clear guidelines on how to behave in certain situations.

He recalled that the International Judo Federation accepted Kosovo as a member, and Kosovo judokas are winning medals.

The President of the Water Polo Association of Serbia, Miodrag Krivokapić, said that athletes should never be stopped from competing in the Olympic Games, but that the recognition of Kosovo shouldn’t be allowed either.

“Politicians must help us, give us guidelines, but we must not allow for Kosovo to be recognized by us, athletes”, Krivokapić stressed.

The President of the Olympic Committee of Serbia, Boža Maljković, hopes that good conclusions will be drawn from today’s meeting, which will, in synergy with the Serbian government and the President, eliminate all dilemmas when it comes to participating in major sports competitions.

The representative of the Sports Association of Serbia, Dane Korica, emphasized that it is important to talk about the future of sports, that sport is a great army of people and the most successful activity in Serbia, and it affirms Serbia.

He added that the Sports Association of Serbia will support everything that the Government of Serbia decides.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Vanja Udovičić, said that sport organized the largest conference and discussion on the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija.

“We heard about the problems our athletes are faced with both at domestic and international fields. We had some substantial suggestions on how to solve some issues. I am sure that we will come up with one constructive solutions for the issue that is not important only for the sport system, but for the whole of Serbia”, Udovičić told reporters during the break.

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djurić, stressed that Serbian sport is united to give its contribution to the realization of Serbian interests in Kosovo.

“I must say that I am very hearted to see that they came here with the same passion with which they fight for our national colors and flag at sports competitions, and we should prove ourselves together in finding a solution for our most difficult state and national issue”, Djurić said.

He stressed that he is glad that athletes and sports associations are continuing to give their contribution, and that the government will make efforts to have more comprehensive recommendations.

The internal dialogue on the solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija was initiated by the President of the state, Aleksandar Vučić, and the first round began on October 30, when 40 jurists, university professors, presented their views on the solution of the Kosovo and Metohija issue.

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