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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia will stand by its people in Kosovo

Belgrade, 22 November 2018

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic met today in Belgrade with representatives of the Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija, with whom he discussed how to help our people after the measures imposed by Pristina on goods from Serbia.

Vucic pointed out that the introduction of a 10 percent fee at the beginning and now of 100 percent means a total ban on trade with central Serbia, because the measure has hit not only the consumer goods, but also medical supplies for the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Commenting on the statement of Ramush Haradinaj that Pristina will not abolish taxes on Serbian goods until Serbia recognises Kosovo's independence, Vucic said that we must prepare for a long struggle because we will certainly not recognise independence.

The Serbian President also emphasised that the burning of Serbian goods in Kacanik represents something that has not been seen anywhere else before, and voiced hope that the European Union will manage to bring Pristina to its senses, although he is not optimistic that this will happen.

I am afraid that Pristina did not understand anything that I said in Kosovska Mitrovica. I called for peace and understanding and for the Pristina side to realise that the compromise is the only possible solution, but perhaps they understood it as a sign of weakness from our part, he said.

Vucic underlined that Belgrade must safeguard peace for the sake of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and central Serbia.

We have goods and a prosperous economy. The standard of living has finally begun to improve. We must not jeopardise that. We must do our best to avoid any kind of confrontation, the President said.

According to him, Pristina will try to drag us into conflicts with diversified provocations, and that is why we have to stand by each other and fight with peaceful, allowed political means.

I hope that it will not occur to anyone to use force against our people just because they are Serbs. The Serbian state will not allow it, Vucic said.

Serbia is monitoring the situation on the ground, he underlined, noting that a move of Kosovo forces towards the north of the province has been recorded.