“Serbia not threatening anyone in Balkans”

PM-designate Ivica Dacic said on Saturday the goal of Serbia's new government would be for the country to be a factor of peace and stability in the region. He added that everyone should understand that no one in the Balkans was in any danger from Serbia. “Serbia not threatening anyone in Balkans” “The Serbian people do not wish for tension in the least and they would prefer it if no conflicts and wars happened in the future because of all the casualties they have suffered in the past,” Dacic noted. "I will not let the Serbian people suffer pointless casualties for goals that cannot be accomplished," he told reporters, adding that negotiations should be used to protect national interest. "There should be no fear of the next government stopping the talks regarding Kosovo. On the contrary, the dialogue will continue based on what the current government has agreed to," said the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader, who is negotiating to form a government with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS). He called for a resumption of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina facilitated by the EU, with the desire to find "at least the bare minimum of common ground that will serve both our EU integration and national interest and, of course, peace and stability in the entire region." "No one in the Balkans is in danger from Serbia and the Serbian people, in fact quite the opposite, it is our interest for the ties between the region's countries to be as strong as possible," he remarked. Dacic said that as an interior minister he had established excellent cooperation with his colleagues in the region and stated a number of times the countries of the Balkans should work together more closely. He believes it is necessary because the Balkan countries have common interests and can serve their individual interests better through cooperation. He added that he would insist on the obligation of the international forces to secure peace and security in Kosovo and denied he would work on the return of the Serbian forces to the province. Dacic stressed that Serbia did not have its security forces in Kosovo. Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said earlier that Dacic’s statement that he would do his best to return the Serbian forces to Kosovo had caused concern in the region. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug) Tanjug

“Serbia not threatening anyone in Balkans”

“The Serbian people do not wish for tension in the least and they would prefer it if no conflicts and wars happened in the future because of all the casualties they have suffered in the past,” Dačić noted.

"I will not let the Serbian people suffer pointless casualties for goals that cannot be accomplished," he told reporters, adding that negotiations should be used to protect national interest.

"There should be no fear of the next government stopping the talks regarding Kosovo. On the contrary, the dialogue will continue based on what the current government has agreed to," said the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) leader, who is negotiating to form a government with the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the United Regions of Serbia (URS).

He called for a resumption of the talks between Belgrade and Priština facilitated by the EU, with the desire to find "at least the bare minimum of common ground that will serve both our EU integration and national interest and, of course, peace and stability in the entire region."

"No one in the Balkans is in danger from Serbia and the Serbian people, in fact quite the opposite, it is our interest for the ties between the region's countries to be as strong as possible," he remarked.

Dačić said that as an interior minister he had established excellent cooperation with his colleagues in the region and stated a number of times the countries of the Balkans should work together more closely.

He believes it is necessary because the Balkan countries have common interests and can serve their individual interests better through cooperation.

He added that he would insist on the obligation of the international forces to secure peace and security in Kosovo and denied he would work on the return of the Serbian forces to the province.

Dačić stressed that Serbia did not have its security forces in Kosovo.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj said earlier that Dačić’s statement that he would do his best to return the Serbian forces to Kosovo had caused concern in the region.