Belgrade to consider countermeasures against Pristina (Tanjug, B92)
The Serbian President and leader of the ruling SNS party told a party gathering in Belgrade that he would face a request to recognize a full independence of Kosovo, without divisions and "full and integral territory of an independent Kosovo," Serbian media reported.
He said he would speak with the presidents of China and Russia in Beijing and then head to Berlin for very difficult meetings with the leaders of France and Germany.
"I will tell you right away: nothing good awaits us there and I expect nothing good. The only thing I expect is a start of requests for a new format where the goal would be a recognition of independence without Serbia getting anything," he said.
They will request that we return to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue without the Kosovo Albanians scrapping their tariffs on Serbian goods, he said.
"I will not accept a resumption of any dialogue without a scrapping of the tariffs, whatever the pressure," he said after the SNS Presidency meeting in Belgrade.
Speaking about the demands and pressure on Serbia to recognize Kosovo - it's southern province, where ethnic Albanians 11 years ago unilaterally declared independence - Vucic said he was "not exaggerating."
"And we should be lucky if they don't introduce a special tribunal for Serbs and convict us for all sexual crimes committed in the Balkans. I do not exaggerate at all, I even softened it," Vucic said. Accordingly, he added, there will be great pressure.
"They will also support internal elements in order to reduce the strength of the Serbian state and to make it easier to reach that goal," Vucic said.
He recalled that there was "nothing that Albanians have not done against Serbs and Serbia" - and explained: "They did not meet their obligations from the Brussels agreement, including the key point to form the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO), they have imposed tariffs contrary to all international laws, passed a platform against negotiations designed to humiliate and destroy, and made to recognize Kosovo, they introduced an army contrary to even their own constitution and the position of the NATO Secretary General, they have been allowed to do so, we have waited for six months for the tariffs to be withdrawn, for the international community to plead with them, to ask their baby to abolish them, but nothing happened, on the contrary."
"In the last few weeks, they have been come to Belgrade, inviting me to various meetings where they insist that we should do something to 'improve the mood' of Albanians, so that they can abolish the tariffs. You take pause, you don't believe it, and then the fake stories about land records and diplomas start, that have been used to once again deceive Serbia, regardless of our poor negotiating," the president said, referring to some earlier points from the Kosovo dialogue.
"When you say, 'that's impossible without the abolition of the tariffs' - they say - 'tell me you will no longer work to block Kosovo recognitions," he continued.
"Let's make a deal - they shouldn't work for the campaign to gain recognition, so we will not (work against them) - but no, no, that cannot be done, 'it's normal for them to seek recognition'...," Vucic said, describing the way foreigners have been presenting their case in conversations with him.
He also remarked that when he said we had a chance to reach a compromise solution, he was proclaimed a traitor - "and that may have been the last chance." Vucic also questioned how it was possible that there is only one target and one topic in Albanian media in Kosovo.
"Well, if I'm a traitor, why are they (Albanian language press) attacking me every day, why do they love (opposition) protests in Belgrade so much and are cheering for them so much? Or are they bothered by Vucic because he knew what Serbian interests are, and now it's important just to topple Vucic?," he asked.
Unless Pristina revokes the tariffs by May 6 - which will be six months after they were introduced - a special meeting of the SNS main board will be held to present measures against Pristina, he announced.
And he had this message for "all those who are used to calling him on the phone and making threats" if Serbs even attempt to defend themselves: "Don't call me. I'm not available."