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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Continuation of talks on Kosovo and Metohija, European path Serbia's priorities

Belgrade, 23 January 2023

President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said tonight in his address to the citizens that the change in geopolitical circumstances contributed to the harshest approach of Western countries towards Serbia and the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

Vucic pointed out that the plan for Kosovo and Metohija, which was presented to him on 20 January at the meeting with the international "five", is no longer just Franco-German, but much more than that, saying that it is not easy to find something in this document that we would be delighted with, but on the contrary.

He explained that five Western envoys came to Serbia with a plan made 60 days ago, which has since been recognised by all EU countries, even the five that did not recognise Kosovo and Metohija, and that is how the plan is, not officially, but de facto, became a new negotiating framework.

The President noted that in the conversation with the "five", he was told that we must accept the plan, and if we do not do so, we will face the interruption of the European integration process, the stoppage and then the withdrawal of investments and comprehensive measures in the economic and political sense that will cause damage to Serbia.

Serbia, as he emphasised, must talk and continue its European path. Our plan is to work much harder and harder on reforms of the legal and media system, to try to be the best in everything, to talk with Albanians and Europeans on all issues.

He told the citizens to trust the state leadership and that nothing was signed. Nothing will happen today or tomorrow, and when we are faced with the final demands, the National Assembly, perhaps the people, and perhaps all other institutions and the entire Serbian society will also declare about it.

He announced that in the coming days he will invite all representatives of parliamentary groups who want to discuss the mentioned proposal, and he will also listen to the opinion of the Serbian Orthodox Church and other religious communities.

It is very important to show that we want peace, the President said and added that at the government session they agreed on tactical moves in order to protect the citizens of Serbia and Serbia.

If the choice is that on the one hand we have sanctions, such as the withdrawal of investments, or on the other hand we will accept everything immediately, which means Kosovo in the UN, I am in favour of the path of compromise as much as it is possible to fight, he said.

The President once again said that he will protect the unity and integrity of the country, and reiterated that we must find as many compromise solutions as possible with the temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina and build a position for some future long-term peace.

Now there is a great struggle for the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, which is not and cannot be a non-governmental organization, he underlined and explained that it has its own 22 principles signed in Brussels in 2015, it has goals and an organizational structure.

The President said he expects it to be finally completed in the coming months, noting that he has seen US determination on the matter.