Vucic: U.S. wants main role in Belgrade-Pristina mediation

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on June 22, commenting on a postponement of a meeting in Paris on Kosovo, that the U.S. wanted the main role in mediating between Belgrade and Pristina.

Vucic told reporters during an official visit to Minsk that Kosovo Premier Ramush Haradinaj had signaled to the Americans that he wanted the U.S. to call the shots, not the French or Germans.

"They can bring as many Americans as they want, it won't be any good. I hope that we'll avoid tensions in the meantime," Vucic said.

Vucic said it was unacceptable to Serbia to only have those who recognize Kosovo running the show.

Belgrade hence has the right to "a sealed move."

In a statement to reporters in Belgrade on June 23, Vucic said Serbia had not closed the door on introducing countermeasures against Pristina over a recently introduced 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods.

The president of Serbia said the countermeasures would be levied if there is no headway in talks with Pristina.

"We will speak with all our international partners, but if we are forced to, if there is no headway, we'll have to do it," Vucic said.