Dacic: Stopping Campaign for De-recognition of Kosovo Cannot Be Compensation for Abolishing Tariffs

Ivica Dacic (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic stated on Jan. 23 that the stopping of the campaign for the de-recognition of Kosovo's independence could not represent compensation for the abolishing of the import tariffs Pristina had imposed on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"The pressure on Pristina for abolishing the tariffs should be much greater and that is where the help of the U.S. would be the most useful," Dacic told reporters in the Serbian parliament, commenting on the statements which the U.S. president's envoy, Richard Grenell, made in Pristina.

In Pristina on Jan. 23, Grenell called for the abolishing of the 100-percent import tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for an end to Serbia's campaigning for the de-recognition of Kosovo's independence. Dacic assessed that the only thing Serbia could do was to welcome the U.S. representatives' increased interest in the unblocking of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

He added that the U.S. had not changed its stance regarding Kosovo's independence and that he did not expect the talks with Grenell to be easy.

Asked about what he would do if Grenell were to call for an end to Serbia's campaigning for the de-recognition of Kosovo's independence, Dacic replied that he hoped that meant that they would end their campaign for its recognition because, at every session of the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. representatives call on all countries to recognize Kosovo as independent.