Vucic: We don’t recognize Kosovo, but we want to be part of the EU
Belgrade is discussing with Brussels not recognition of Kosovo, but an agreement to normalize relations.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters after a meeting with European Council President Charles Michel.
“If you think you are getting free cheese, you will never get it, because free cheese only exists in mousetraps... This is not about recognition, but about a comprehensive agreement to normalize [relations with Kosovo]. This is what we know, since we are on the European path, and this is nothing new for us...
Let's be fair to ourselves - we recognized long ago that we want to be part of the EU. This is our request and wish, but their request, even before granting candidate status, was to agree on the normalization of relations with Pristina,” Vucic said.
He added that he is absolutely confident that whatever the EU proposal for Serbia is, be it fast-track membership or an initiative to create a geopolitical community, it will be agreed upon by Germany and France.
The head of Serbia also emphasized that he was credited with saying about the impending famine in Serbia.
“There will be hunger in the world,” he said.
At the same time, he added that Serbia faces serious problems in the energy sector.
“There are incredible tectonic changes happening around us on a global scale, and this winter will be one of the most difficult. That is why it is important that we have the closest relations with the EU,” says the head of state.
In turn, Michel said that the EU is committed to negotiations on the accession of Serbia and said that a meeting with the leaders of the Western Balkans will take place in June.
“We want to expand dialogue and deepen cooperation. The war in Ukraine shook the continent and ended the peace we had all fought for. The time has come for us to rebuild economies and protect each other after coronavirus, challenges require new thinking, we must accelerate integration and create incentive for reform. We want to give benefits to Serbian citizens and partners in the region.
My visit sends a strong signal of close cooperation between Serbia and the EU, I visited the Science and Technology Park and this is an example of how the EU is contributing to the future of Serbia. When we invest in innovation, we invest in the Serbian people.
Your projects become common, your future is our common future. This is why the EU is the leading investor. We support Serbia and the interconnector between Serbia and Bulgaria, and this will diversify supplies to Serbia,” Michel said.
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