Vučić: Haradinaj's resignation a political trick, no reason for euphoria

(Patria) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says that Ramush Haradinaj's resignation is a political trick aimed at gaining even greater popularity in Kosovo. Vučić emphasizes that Serbia must react to this event calmly, measuredly, soberly, and without any euphoria, Serbian media report.

"We understand both the expectations and the need of our people for justice to be served, our people who have suffered the stigma of being the culprits and the only ones responsible for everything that happened in the former Yugoslavia, and that is why I understand a certain satisfaction regarding the summons of Ramush Haradinaj for questioning, due to the fact that he is suspected of war crimes," Vučić said at a press conference.

He believes there is no reason for euphoria.

"We believe there is no reason for euphoria, not because we think anything positive about Haradinaj, but because we are considering all the facts and all the consequences that follow this act, especially how both Albanians and the international community will treat the Serbian people and the Serbian community in Kosovo," Vučić said.

The Serbian President says the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija will be even more difficult than it has been so far.

"Namely, there will be additional homogenization of Albanians, radicalization of their positions, and even more terrible hatred towards Serbs and the Serbian state, which they consider responsible for what is happening to Haradinaj," Vučić stated.

He emphasized that Serbia will therefore devote "even greater attention to the survival and security of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija." "The people can count on their state," he said.

Regarding Haradinaj's resignation, he says it is a "political trick."

"Namely, Haradinaj's resignation is a political trick by which he wants to gain even greater popularity, to defeat his opponents, in which he becomes a hero fighting for a whole Kosovo, while all others are unworthy of such a leader who leads them into a bright future. At the same time, there is silence about the crimes committed against the Serbian and non-Albanian people, and they are silent about that, while most talk is about political implications," he said.

He also stated that Serbia's predictions are that Haradinaj will go to The Hague next week and "that he will be released after 48 hours, that he will return as a great hero of the Albanian population in Kosovo."

"Their plan is to wait for the elections, so that from those elections Ramush Haradinaj and his political party emerge even stronger. Haradinaj's calculation is somewhat different, but nevertheless, as you can see, there is not much room for Serbs there, nor for dialogue with Belgrade," Vučić assessed.

The essence, according to his words, is that "fierce pressure on Serbia" will continue. 

"And then they will say, now you Serbs and Serbia must give in much more than you previously thought you would give in, because that is the only way we can reach a compromise, and that is what we will undoubtedly be facing," Vučić believes. 

Vučić also said that Serbia will insist even more on the continuation of dialogue with Kosovo and the abolition of tariffs. 

- I will talk with several leaders of the Western Balkans about that idea of uniting the Western Balkans in an economic sense, that is our only hope for survival and the only chance for us to progress economically, and it seems to me that many Balkan countries must understand that, and I am convinced that many Western Balkan leaders understand that today - Vučić said.