Vucic: Patriarch's letter important, I expect Kosovo-Metohija Serbs' needs to be understood

ARANDJELOVAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday a letter Patriarch Porfirije of the Serbian Orthodox Church had sent to the presidents of the USA and Russia and to the Vatican to call on them to help prevent Pristina's so-called law on foreigners from entering into force on March 15 was very important.

"It is exceptionally important that the patriarch and our Church have become involved in that great battle in such a manner - in a determined, serious and responsible way. As far as the matters themselves are concerned, let's wait. We are talking to the Europeans. I must admit the Europeans' engagement is a positive surprise to me - there are two more days to see whether they will succeed in something or not," Vucic told reporters during a visit to the Kopljare village near Arandjelovac, central Serbia.

He noted that the patriarch's letter was even more thorough than what had been released to media outlets.

"I think that just a part of it has been published - it is even more thorough and more comprehensive, and it is enormously important when our Church (takes action) in such a way, because it has enormous authority and reputation internationally," Vucic said.

He noted that the presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, always noted a desire to safeguard Christian values, and said he believed they would read the patriarch's letter attentively and understand the needs of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs.

"It is extremely important that the letter has also been sent to the Holy See, extremely important, because I know everything that is going on and what circles around the Vatican are like - they are trying to reverse the Vatican's decision on Kosovo-Metohija," Vucic added.

Earlier in the day, Patriarch Porfirije wrote to Pope Leo XIV, Putin, Trump and other major European and world leaders, calling on them to use their authority to get Pristina to halt the enforcement of the extremely discriminatory law on foreigners.