Marko Djuric: Normalization with Pristina Is a Euphemism for Ending Pressure on Kosovo Serbs

Marko Djuric (mfa.gov.rs)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric on Nov. 18 said that for Serbia, the normalization of relations with Pristina was a euphemism for its request to end pressure on the Serbs in Kosovo.

“When we talk about the normalization, it is a euphemism for our request to end the almost three-year campaign of unprecedented pressure against the Serbian community in Kosovo,” Djuric told the Adria Summit at the Palace of Serbia, organized by Euronews Serbia.

The Pristina government, according to Djuric, is not oriented towards the dialogue with Belgrade, regarding it as a necessary evil, and believing it does not need it and that “it should employ unilateral moves to create a new political map.” He also said that the great powers viewed the Western Balkans as a region, and less through bilateral relations, and that joint lobbying would bring greater attention and more investments and innovations.

“The US politicians and general public view us as communicating vessels. The volume of investments and innovations as well as US’ political attention we will able to attract, will depend on how much we will be able to jointly lobby for each other, rather than lobbying against each other,” Djuric said, noting that the Western Balkans was now viewed as a region of instability, which would mean missed opportunities.

Commenting on US sanctions against oil and gas company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), Djuric said that Serbia was paying attention to gradual energy diversification. He also described as great news for the region the exemption of Hungary from US sanctions on Russian oil.