Vučić: If we don't accept the plan for Kosovo, EU integration will stop and investments will be withdrawn

(Patria) - The plan for Kosovo and Metohija is no longer just Franco-German, but much more than that, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in an address to the public.

"I could have said that we will not talk, but there would be consequences.

He said that he accepted the talks not to buy time because Albin Kurti will do everything to not form the CSM, which is the chronological first step, but because Serbia must not remain isolated.

"I realized that nobody is listening to us and that we will have to face it. Could I have said get out, we will not talk about it. I could have, but there would have been consequences. It would have been a matter of days, or weeks, when they would have revoked our visa-free regime with the EU. The second thing that would have happened is that there would be no more foreign investments, and many would have withdrawn from Serbia," said Vučić.

He said that Germans alone employ 80,000 people in Serbia, and if Americans, French, and Italians are included, that number is even higher.

"We have 8.2 billion euros with Germany, from which we pay salaries and pensions, not to mention what it would mean for Serbia to be isolated. Serbia must participate in the dialogue, it must continue its path, not because I adore their hypocrisy, but because we must economically survive and progress, we must not be isolated," said Vučić.

He added that he is concerned that there is no longer any rational approach to solving problems.

"That is something I saw in conversations with representatives of the most powerful countries in the world. Whatever I said based on facts and documents and presented, I realized that the time for reason has expired, no one wants to listen to me, or any of us. They have their agenda, which is the defeat of Russia, and anything that stands in the way of that agenda will be swept away," said Vučić.

When I tell them that the CSM must come first, they say yes, but you see it's not realistic, adds Vučić.

"You see that no objective and rational arguments work anymore," warns Vučić.

"I know what will happen, we want compromise and talks. We have always wanted them. We want to show a constructive approach everywhere. Both sides must make concessions, we understood that, but the problem is when you see that one side can do whatever it wants and be rewarded for it," emphasized Vučić, adding that "all these were unilateral actions by Kurti and his regime, and they were rewarded with visa-free liberalization, rewarded with the acceptance of their documents for the EU, essentially rewarded with entry into the Council of Europe, whether it's in six months, a year, or a year and a half, it doesn't matter, it will happen.".

Vučić says that we must work and talk with European mediators, as well as with the Albanians, and try to find as many compromise solutions as possible on numerous issues.

"We cannot prevent their entry into some international organizations like the Council of Europe, nor can we prevent their entry into NATO, although I said that if they expect applause from us for something like that, they will not get it, but we cannot prevent it," says Vučić.

What we can do, he says, is talk about how to increase the level of trust between us and the Albanians and how to build a position for some future long-term peace.

"First of all, the Community of Serb Municipalities must be formed," emphasizes Vučić.

"The CSM is not and cannot be a non-governmental organization, it has its 22 principles signed in Brussels in 2015. There are goals, an organizational structure, I am saying this because some others want to dictate what the CSM should look like, but it is known what it should look like," said Vučić.

"I just want to say that a great struggle for the CSM is now coming, it is obvious that they will try to say that 21 out of these 22 principles are not in accordance with the constitution of Kosovo and that is why they will not do it, but I have seen the determination of the Americans on this issue, I believe that it can finally be completed in the coming months," adds Vučić.

The President of Serbia said that in the second sentence at the meeting of the "big five" he was told that we must accept the plan.

"In the second sentence that was communicated to me, it was said - you must accept this plan, and if you do not accept it, because we believe it must be accepted, you will face - first, the cessation of the EU integration process, second, the halt and withdrawal of investments, and third, comprehensive measures in the economic and political sense that will cause great damage to the Republic of Serbia," said President Vučić.

The President of Serbia said that since Albin Kurti came to power, there have been 288 incidents.

"They are looking for a conflict because they want NATO to enter into a conflict with Serbia, and for them to avoid forming the CSM, and that is their entire tactic," said Vučić.

"They came with a plan that we saw for the first time 60 days ago. Without any fault of Serbia, not a single Albanian was shot, we did not attack anyone, they came and presented the plan, and then at the Foreign Affairs Council, everyone accepted it, including the five countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence, because they were told that the plan does not include recognition of the so-called independence of Kosovo. Thus, this plan has become not formally but de facto a new negotiation framework for Serbia. There is no progress for us in Europe if we do not cooperate," emphasized the President of Serbia.

Vučić said that he has always considered a frozen conflict to be the worst solution and that seeking compromise is the only solution.

When you look at a document, it is very easy to find many objections, and in this document, it is difficult to find anything that excites us, on the contrary, says Vučić.

"Precisely because of the fact that geopolitical circumstances have changed, there is great nervousness, Europe is in a de facto war, no matter what they say, there is no tolerance for any deviation in the political sense, and on the other hand, they want to see everything in their backyard, and the Western Balkans and Serbia are their backyard, as they wish," states Vučić.

"The question arises as to what else contributed to the situation where European officials, supported by Washington, came out with such a sharp approach and sense of urgency," emphasized Vučić.

He pointed out that after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, this became one of the biggest problems for Serbia.

"First of all, because we are on everyone's radar for not imposing sanctions on Russia, and then, he adds, due to the incidents caused by Kurti's regime."

He said that the war in Ukraine brought great misfortune to Serbia.

"The EU is the largest investor in our country, the largest donor. They came with a stick, I believe there will be some good things in the future. I have asked for help and support from the EU, we will see," said Vučić.