Serbian Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic said North Macedonia recognized unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo in order to get closer to the West, adding the argumentation of newly elected Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski who said it was done because of Albanians living in the country “does not stand.”

Dacic commented for TV Pink on Pendarovski’s statement that “North Macedonia recognized Kosovo in line with its strategic orientation, but also taking into consideration the stance of the Albanian citizens which make the second largest community in the country,” and noted the North Macedonia did so only due to its strategic orientation and not because of Albanians.