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Vucic: Dialogue Resumption with Pristina in December, in Best-Case Scenario
The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, in the best-case scenario, might be renewed in December, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared on Wednesday.
“You cannot expect [dialogue resumption] prior to holding elections in Kosovo, which I believe will occur on October 6. This means early December in the best of cases, but before that, what is important is to negotiate the lifting of 100 percent tariffs on goods from Serbia, Vucic told TV Prva in New York, where he met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Vucic declared that, for him, this was a “very important and instructive meeting; I feel that I now better understand the US position, its preoccupations, and fears, and I also feel that they understand our preoccupations and fears much better now”.
Washington is not changing its position regarding the independence of Kosovo, but it is “opening some doors and understands well the necessity of reaching an accord which would not humiliate Serbia and scorn its interests”, he said.
In a previous statement to media following the meeting with Pompeo, Vucic said that Serbia is prepared, regardless of its internal political agenda and the fact that it brings no benefit to anyone in power in Serbia, to start an open political dialogue with Albanians as soon as tariffs are lifted”.
“The political price to pay is not what matters – and people in this country do have pretty sensitive ears; they don’t like listening much about things that have to do with reality-they prefer listening to myths. I said that we are prepared to talk and that we understand well that, if any solution would ever come up, such solution should not satisfy just one side, because that would be a proof that such solution can survive on the longer term”, he said.
Pompeo and Vucic “discussed the shared bilateral vision of a stable, secure, and prosperous Western Balkans region, and continued US support for Serbia’s goal of integration into the European Union”, the State Department announced after the meeting.
Pompeo “encouraged Serbia to focus on this strategic goal by accelerating domestic reforms and resuming negotiations with Kosovo on a comprehensive normalization agreement centered on mutual recognition. The Secretary reiterated that both sides should avoid provocations that hinder the normalization process, and engage with the spirit of compromise and flexibility necessary to secure an agreement and unlock both countries’ potential”, the press release said.
Vucic wrote on his Instagram account that while in the US, he had a “second and serious” discussion with Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer about relations between Belgrade and Pristina and Serb-American relations.
He also wrote on Instagram that he met with executive vice-president at the Atlantic Council Damon Wilson and that Kosovo was the dominating topic of that meeting.
The meeting between Vucic and Pompeo showed that Washington “has changed its approach to solving the Kosovo issue” and that the US “endorse a compromise solution that would also take into consideration Serbia’s interests”, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic declared on Wednesday.
“We should not believe that the US changed its mind about Kosovo’s independence, but there is now a big difference: Trump and his inner circle - National Security Advisor Bolton, Secretary Pompeo, Vice President Pence – believe that it is necessary to continue negotiating and seeking a compromise”, Dacic told news agency Tanjug.
This US position is a “big change from the past claims coming from [Democratic Party-led] US administration”, he said.