Vučić compares Kosovo issue to “tightrope walking”

PODGORICA Serbian First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic has assessed that in its search for a solution for the Kosovo issue, Serbia is “walking a tightrope“. Vucic pointed out that Serbia's goal was not to violate its Constitution and principles and to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks. Vucic compares Kosovo issue to “tightrope walking” “We are trying to get as much as we can for our people and lose as little as possible,” he told Podgorica-based TV Atlas. The deputy PM said that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic would “very soon“ meet with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga. When asked when the meeting would take place, Vucic said: “If I said soon, then it will be soon.” Commenting on a recent statement of Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic that Serbia was ready to negotiate about a UN seat for Kosovo, he stressed that the PM had only wanted to say that Serbia was ready to look for a comprehensive solution. “Dacic only wanted to say that we are ready for a long-term agreement with Albanians,” the deputy prime minister said and added that a UN seat for Kosovo was not a realistic solution at the moment. According to him, it is very important to Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks because it would encourage investors to come to Serbia. Vucic noted that he knew many investors who were waiting for Serbia to get a date for the start of the EU talks in order to invest in development projects in Serbia. He assessed that early elections would not be the best solution for the country but that he would not rule out a possibility of them taking place. “We as a party (Serbian Progressive Party, SNS) are not rushing toward that but I would not completely rule out the possibility,” Vucic stressed. Commenting on Serbia’s relations with Montenegro, he said that the current Serbian government was interested in the “best possible relations” between the two countries. He explained that Serbia was working on having good relations with Montenegro in the future. The first deputy PM denied allegations that investigations into corruption cases in Serbia were fight against political opponents. He added that all suspects would have a fair trial in Serbia. “Nobody will be protected, they can be my best man or whatever, nobody will be spared if they are guilty,” Vucic pointed out. He underscored that he had put himself in harm’s way “both politically and physically” by launching organized crime probes, adding that he would not be scared away. Aleksandar Vucic (Beta, file) Beta

Vučić compares Kosovo issue to “tightrope walking”

“We are trying to get as much as we can for our people and lose as little as possible,” he told Podgorica-based TV Atlas.

The deputy PM said that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić would “very soon“ meet with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga.

When asked when the meeting would take place, Vučić said:

“If I said soon, then it will be soon.”

Commenting on a recent statement of Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić that Serbia was ready to negotiate about a UN seat for Kosovo, he stressed that the PM had only wanted to say that Serbia was ready to look for a comprehensive solution.

“Dačić only wanted to say that we are ready for a long-term agreement with Albanians,” the deputy prime minister said and added that a UN seat for Kosovo was not a realistic solution at the moment.

According to him, it is very important to Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks because it would encourage investors to come to Serbia. Vučić noted that he knew many investors who were waiting for Serbia to get a date for the start of the EU talks in order to invest in development projects in Serbia.

He assessed that early elections would not be the best solution for the country but that he would not rule out a possibility of them taking place.

“We as a party (Serbian Progressive Party, SNS) are not rushing toward that but I would not completely rule out the possibility,” Vučić stressed.

Commenting on Serbia’s relations with Montenegro, he said that the current Serbian government was interested in the “best possible relations” between the two countries. He explained that Serbia was working on having good relations with Montenegro in the future.

The first deputy PM denied allegations that investigations into corruption cases in Serbia were fight against political opponents.

He added that all suspects would have a fair trial in Serbia.

“Nobody will be protected, they can be my best man or whatever, nobody will be spared if they are guilty,” Vučić pointed out.

He underscored that he had put himself in harm’s way “both politically and physically” by launching organized crime probes, adding that he would not be scared away.