Former Diplomat: Vucic Ready to Recognize Kosovo’s Independence Just to Avoid Sanctions And Stay in Power

Nebojsa Vujovic (Photo: Youtube/Printscreen)

Former diplomat Nebojsa Vujovic stated on Feb. 26 that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence just to stay in power and avoid U.S. sanctions for corruption, rigging elections and violating the rule of law.

Commenting on the visit of Foreign Minister Marko Djuric to Washington, Vujovic told BETA that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented to the Serbian foreign minister the secret binding agreement on the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. “Djuric was invited to Washington in order for Rubio to present to him, on the behalf of the U.S. government and President Donald Trump, about the secret binding agreement on the recognition of Kosovo’s independence. That was the main reason for inviting Djuric to Washington. Every day, step by step, Serbia is approaching the formalization and official recognition of Kosovo as an independent state,” Vujovic said.

In his words, Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo as independent would be very important for Trump, while President Vucic, he added, would buy time to remain in power.

“With the signing of the binding agreement on recognizing Kosovo, Trump would accomplish great success and, at the same time, give a slap in the face to both the EU and Russia. On the other hand, this suits Vucic because he would buy time to remain in power. Vucic would thus receive tacit agreement to shut independent media down, while the introduction of American sanctions for corruption, election rigging and violating the rule of law, under the Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act that the U.S. Congress has passed, would be delayed,” stated the former diplomat.