Vučić: Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence

Vučić: Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has stated that Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

At the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Vučić stated that a country’s membership in the European Union (EU) is a “political decision” and not a matter of merit.

“People in Europe constantly talk about a merit-based approach, with such formulations. But this has never happened,” said Vučić, emphasizing that for Serbia the main obstacle on this path remains its unwillingness to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

“It’s about Kosovo. As you know, we adhere to the United Nations Charter and Resolution 1244, which states that Kosovo is part of Serbia. Twenty-two of the 27 EU member states have already recognized Kosovo’s independence, while five of them have not – and that’s the problem. Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence,” Vučić said, according to REL.

During the forum in Prague, Vučić also met with the European envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen, with whom, according to him, he had a “substantive and constructive conversation” about the continuation of the EU-mediated talks, regional challenges, and maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

“I reiterated Serbia’s full commitment to finding compromise solutions through dialogue, with full respect for international partners and with a clear appreciation for the interests of our people. I underlined that for the continuation of the dialogue, it is essential to return to the basics that have been neglected – such as the formation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities,” Vučić declared.

This year’s GLOBSEC Forum is being held at a time when European countries are increasingly reviewing their role in a changing global environment.

The Western Balkans is part of the agenda, but Kosovo is not represented at this event.