FM talks Dayton agreement, Russia, Kosovo

FM talks Dayton agreement, Russia, Kosovo

"We wish all the best to Bosnia-Herzegovina, we want stability, a European path of Bosnia and good ties with the Serb Republic, that is, the Serb people living in all of Bosnia-Herzegovina," he said on Friday.

Serbia, he added, "supports the attempt" to remove the obstacles from Bosnia's European path and "to talk about the future, that this is the result of a mutual agreement of all three nations, both entities."

The Dayton Agreement enabled for peace, he recalled, adding that it was the lack of political will, rather than the shortcomings in its constitution, that stood in the way of Bosnia's future.

"There will be no revision of the Dayton agreement without the consent of those who signed it, that is, all three peoples in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and we will have a constructive role, as we care the most about peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina," Dačić said.

The minister, who spoke at a press conference in Belgrade, then turned to Serbia's EU membership ambition and the country's ties with Russia, to say Belgrade has not changed its stance on refusing to impose sanctions on Russia - "just like it did not change its position regarding the European Union (membership), which is a strategic goal."

"I hope that Serbia will not be in a position to pose the question, 'Brussels or Moscow' to itself," he said, stressing that the country, as a candidate for EU membership, has an obligation to, by the end of the negotiation process align its foreign and security policy with the EU - "and that is what Serbia is doing."

"Our level of harmonization is such that we are not aligned only when it comes to the sanctions against the Russian Federation," Dačić said.

Noting that negotiations on Chapter 31 that relate to foreign policy have not even started, Dačić stressed it was "far too early for anyone to ask Serbia such questions."

"Apart from that, the question here is not whether Serbia will suffer or succumb to some kind of pressure. What this is about is Serbia telling everyone that it has its interests and a traditional friendship, but that it cannot commit economic suicide while at the same time receiving no help from anyone. And why would we do that?"

He cited the example of EU member Hungary that is suffering daily losses due to the sanctions, but pointed out that this country can turn to the European Commission for help.

"We have nobody to turn to. We do not want to go for any kind of experiment, we want good relations with everyone," he said.

As the OSCE chairman next year Serbia will, as he pointed out, "do everything to be a credible partner to Moscow, to Kiev, to Brussels, to Washington, and to any center of political power."

"Our position on Russia has not changed and neither has our position regarding the European Union," reiterated Dačić.

Asked about the Kosovo dialogue, the Serbian foreign minister said that these talks will continue "on the highest level, with the mediation of EU High Representative Federica Mogherini immediately after a government is formed in Priština."

According to him, Mogherini's idea is for the negotiations to continue with prime ministers heading the two delegations, as before.

"Serbia wants that dialogue to be conducted and wants the implementation of the Brussels agreement, that is, the setting up of the Community of Serb Municipalities as soon as possible," he said.