“Serbia does not recognize and will not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo,” claims Marko Djuric, member of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who is also a member of the national team for negotiations with Pristina and implementation of the Brussels Agreement.
Why for Serbian elections in Kosovo the most preferred is the model from 2012, against which then voted REC members from SNS, Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and Radicals (SRS), while Kosovo Serbs claimed they have received the status of “illegal diaspora”?
“This model certainly is not the most desirable, but now it presents the practice and the standard that has been previously established. Opportunities to discuss the most preferred option were unfortunately missed in the past and we are now in a position that we need, in difficult circumstances, to talk about the available and possible solutions. Many people in Pristina are trying to bring in question model from 2012 claiming it is outdated, but at this moment it presents for Serbia a practice, which contains a guaranteed minimum of acceptability. For us the most important thing at this point is that all of our citizens in Kosovo, who want to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections, will be able to do it in the simplest way possible. Our people have shown great political maturity in the local elections in the province, and will have a chance to prove it in the parliamentary elections. We will absolutely accept the will of the Serbian population in Kosovo.”
Is Brussels Agreement allowing Serbia to bring announced constitutional law, which will regulate the legal status of future Community of Serbian municipalities (ZSO) in Serbian legislation?
“The Brussels agreement considers adapting legal frameworks, so on that side I do not see any obstacles for regulating the legal status of the ZSO, of course, in a way that would make it recognizable in the constitutional and statutory regulation of the Republic of Serbia. Till that time, as a prerequisite, we expect negotiations on a number of important issues related to the establishment of specific jurisdiction of ZSO, which are arising from the Brussels Agreement.”
Why the current government in Belgrade is seeking solution to the status of Serbs in Kosovo in regional decentralization of the self-proclaimed state of Kosovo?
“This question contains a false premise that is set up with the direct intention to mislead the reader. Serbia does not recognize and will not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija. Position and our relation to the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina are determined for us by the Serbian Constitution, international law and the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. Regional decentralization is model that is widely accepted and applied in the internal organization of a large number of European countries and there is no reason not to be applied in our country. We are searching solutions in areas in which we can find them at this moment.”
According to your opinion, where is the southern border of Serbia after signing of the Brussels Agreement?
“The boundaries of the Republic of Serbia do not specify Marko Djuric, or any other Serbian or international politician. They are defined by international law, the Constitution and the laws of our country. The place of the southernmost region at boundary point of the Republic of Serbia will be, as so far, the area of Rastelica village, in the municipality Dragaš/Dragash.”
When the signing of a legally binding agreement on the comprehensive normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina (which is a requirement of the EU) is expected, and will it be in accordance with the Constitution of Serbia?
“I really do not want to bid with the dates of signing the agreement and the contents which has not been negotiated.”
