Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, at the talks with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale on Friday, pledged that Belgrade would soon provide a "resolute" and "firm" response to Pristina's steps running against the EU-mediated dialogue between the two sides, the presidential administration said
BELGRADE (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th March, 2019) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, at the talks with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale on Friday, pledged that Belgrade would soon provide a "resolute" and "firm" response to Pristina's steps running against the EU-mediated dialogue between the two sides, the presidential administration said.On Thursday, the parliament of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo approved the law on the negotiation platform and mandates for the EU-mediated dialogue with Belgrade. According to the document, the dialogue should result in Serbia recognizing independence of Kosovo, whose state status and borders should not be subject to discussion. Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister and former field commander Fatmir Limaj, who is in charge of the negotiation team, said that Pristina now "has an official position on a potential agreement to normalize relations with Belgrade." Following the announcement, Vucic chaired a National Security Council meeting and held talks with Hale.
"President Vucic told Under Secretary Hale that the state of Serbia will, in a relatively short time, take measures in response to the [Kosovars'] failure to honor commitments of the Brussels agreement, introduction of [100 percent] duties [on goods from central Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina] and Pristina's decision to stop the dialogue with Belgrade," the administration said in a statement.
The president noted that Serbia's stance "will be resolute, serious, responsible and firm."
In 1999, the armed confrontation of Albanian separatists from the Kosovo Liberation Army, the Serbian armed forces and police led to the bombing of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which then included the territories of Serbia and Montenegro, by US-led NATO forces.
In March 2004, Albanian militants attacked Serb communities, which resulted in the mass resettlement of Serbs from the autonomous region and the destruction of numerous historical and cultural monuments.
Kosovar-Albanian structures in Pristina proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by over 100 UN member states. The move was not, however, recognized by Serbia and two permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia and China among others.
The Serbian leadership, under pressure from Brussels, in 2011 was forced to start negotiations with the Kosovar Albanians under the EU mediation. Belgrade's move has been also determined by the need to bring the region closer to the European Union, as well as make life there easier for Serbian citizens. As of today, the dialogue has been suspended.
