Vucic about Meeting with Kurti in Brussels: Belgrade Wants to Protect Peace and Stability

Aleksandar Vucic, Albin Kurti (FOTO: European Council/Mario Salerno)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Aug. 15 that his only goal at the upcoming meeting in Brussels with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti was to protect peace and stability.

Vucic said to reporters that Belgrade “hasn’t threatened anyone with anything,” underlining that the government in Belgrade only wanted to ensure respect for international rules and legal norms, including the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Brussels agreement.

The president also said that the Serbian party was interested in discussing everything during the meeting in Brussels, including the Community of Serb Municipalities, but that it made no sense to argue that the Community should be set up in conformity with the Kosovo constitution, because Belgrade wouldn’t need one in that case.

“It goes without saying that the powers of the Community should have been much broader, that’s why we sat at the negotiating table. I have realized that they do not care about the Constitution of Serbia very much, and I don’t see why we should care what they or someone else might be thinking. It’s very clear what was on the negotiating table, and we’ll stay on the same path,” Vucic said.

The president refused to comment on a statement by the European External Action Service (EEAS) that it was concerned to see inflamed rhetoric grow between Belgrade and Pristina.