Vucic: Compromise only solution for Kosovo and Metohija, people decide

Photo: Tanjug/Rade Prelic

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said last night that a rational, pragmatic approach is needed to resolve the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as readiness to talk in order to find a compromise solution.

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"We need a pragmatic approach, open doors for talks to find a solution, we need to build trust, which takes time, as well as determination of the international community to support Belgrade and Pristina in various ways in reaching a solution," Vucic told Euronews Serbia, Tanjug reported.

Asked what the Kosovo myth is, Vucic said that it is a myth - if we do not see that reality changes every day and that we are not in an ideal position, as we often want to present ourselves, but that, on the other hand, there is another part of the Kosovo epic, without which we can't do, and that's the value of everything our ancestors have done.

Asked whether it is a myth that Serbia claims the right to Kosovo and Metohija, that no one else claims that right, Vucic said that the solution is somewhere in between.

"The myth is that everything is easy and simple and that we only need to tell the world - get out of here, it is only ours and we should not talk about anything. And that's not easy to connect with reality. But it is also a myth that the Serbian people do not claim any right to Kosovo and Metohija. And, somewhere in between, a rational and compromise solution should be found," said Vucic.

Both sides should make concessions

"Serbia is ready for a compromise, to talk about a compromise, and the people are the ones who will decide," Vucic said, referring to the position in the dialogue with Pristina.

Asked what a compromise is, Vucic said that even if he knew he would not say, because a compromise solution should be reached in a way where both sides make concessions.

Asked to comment on the message of Patriarch Porfirije at Gazimestan that the Kosovo Covenant is the foundation of freedom and creation of the Serb nation, and that every visit to Kosovo and Metohija is a return to the fatherland, he recalled that not only the current but also the previous patriarch, Irinej, said the same on several occasions.

"He spoke about spiritual values, the Kosovo Covenant concerning our state of mind and what we should do in the future. Without going into what he wanted, and I know that he is committed to preserving Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia, he thought about whether we will be able to provide our children in Kosovo and Metohija with safety and security, better salaries and pensions for everyone," Vucic explained.

No one needs conflicts

He stressed that we must consider that without a compromise solution to the Kosovo and Metohija knot, someone could unfreeze that conflict at some point.

"The unfreezing, although it seems attractive to many to freeze the conflict, leads to catastrophe, unrest, conflicts, which no one needs, especially Serbia, which is moving forward the fastest," he said.

When a statement of former Kosovo ambassador to the US Vlora Citaku - who said that time works in favor of Serbia - was mentioned, he replied that if you look from her point of view Serbia is getting stronger, that is true, but that is why the stakes are higher.

"You can get stronger when you have more investments, higher international reputation, but you lose it all by interrupting negotiations, with incidents," Vucic stressed.

(Telegraf.rs)