Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
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23.12.2017.

Minister Vulin: Changing the Format of Negotiations with Priština only with the Approval of Serbia



Today, asked by a reporter to comment on the statement of Ramush Haradinaj about the refusal of Russian participation in the negotiations with Priština, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin stated that Serbia was satisfied with the format in which the talks with Priština were being conducted.

- If Priština is not satisfied with the format, if it wants to change it in any way, if it believes that the format can be changed unilaterally, they are hugely mistaken. Personally, I am pleased that the Russian Federation, after only one request made by our President Aleksandar Vučić, expressed its readiness to participate in the possible change of format and participate in negotiations, which speaks in favour of considerably changed position of the Republic of Serbia, respect that Serbia and its President enjoy in both the Russian Federation and in the world. If Priština wants to change something, it needs to know, not only Priština but also anybody else who wants to change something in the negotiations – whether it is the format, content or anything else, it has to know that it cannot happen without Serbia’s will – the minister of defence said.

According to his words, if other countries that have recognised Kosovo and Metohija are to be involved, then the countries that have not recognised it are to be involved as well.

- Perhaps the most tragic mistake made in this long period of discussion with the international community, whereat I refer to the period from 2000, is that Serbia agreed, at the time of then President Boris Tadić and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremić, to exclude the United Nations from the negotiations as well as UNMIC and countries which had not recognised Kosovo and Metohija, and to introduce EULEX and practically the countries that had recognised Kosovo and Metohija. If the change of format would take place, we would thus reintroduce the countries that did not recognise Kosovo and Metohija which perceive the matters in a completely different manner. Hence, if they want to change something, they will have to do it with Serbia’s consent and no other way – Minister Vulin stated.