Vučić: Albanians parrot mutual recognition, moratorium for one year for both sides

WASHINGTON, (Patria) - We have taken a big step that should lead to the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, said Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić after signing the agreement at the White House. He explained that Serbia signed a bilateral agreement with the US and the third party (Kosovo) was not recognized as a subject of an international agreement.

"A compromise has been reached, this is a good agreement for Serbia. Only for Serbia is the opening of an office of the development fund foreseen, there is none for Pristina. This will be a strong signal to all investors, both American and Western European. Americans will monitor the construction of the road to Pristina. We have agreed on how to build the railway and how to connect central Serbia with Kosovo and Metohija. It talks about how various American corporations will support different projects," said Vučić.

He said that Avdullah Hoti insisted on recognition.

"Albanians were against it and Hoti insisted on it ten times, but that point is not there and there is no mutual recognition. They were against mini Schengen, but neither we nor the Americans understood what it was about. They committed themselves with their agreement to join mini Schengen. There are no more surprises with tariffs, we will enable better flow of goods. Our economy lost a billion euros in half a year, but that is no longer the case. And then it remains for BiH and Montenegro to sort it out," said Vučić. 

He added that an agreement on the recognition of diplomas has been reached, and this will mean a lot for the workforce that must have free movement.

"Americans are monitoring the implementation of the agreement. We were supposed to commit to from whom and what we would buy, but we did not want to agree to that. This is the key thing for the two sides to work together with the US Department of Energy on a feasibility study to share the energy resources of Lake Gazivode. We don't have a single kilowatt of electricity from Gazivode, and this way, however they divide it, we benefit. It's about electricity and water. There is slightly more water on our territory, and we don't get any electricity at all. And this caused great unrest in Pristina," explained Vučić. 

Both sides have agreed on the protection of religious sites and the implementation of court decisions concerning the Serbian Orthodox Church.

"With this, we have secured that Americans guarantee that court decisions will be implemented. When it comes to missing persons and internally displaced persons, the usual norm. Both sides were supposed to condemn Hezbollah. A moratorium was agreed upon, which Pristina was against, and that is that there will be no seeking of international recognition for a year, but Serbia will also not seek the withdrawal of recognition during the same period," he clarified. 

When it comes to Israel, Vučić said that Serbia is not participating in the agreement between Israel and Pristina on mutual recognition.

The Serbian president said that he had a bilateral conversation with Trump.

“I prepared all day. He asked about unemployment in Serbia, public debt. Everyone was there and I talked about the relations between Serbia and America and the significance of the agreement. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we have reasons to be proud of it and we will refer to this agreement in conversations with others. If anyone thinks of playing games with America, try it and you will see,” said Vučić.

Vučić said that he immediately requested the removal of point 10 on mutual recognition, to which the Pristina side said they would withdraw all objections if that point remained, which was unacceptable to Vučić.

“What the Albanians have learned and repeat two words like parrots is mutual recognition, but there is nothing to it,” said Vučić.