Dacic: Pressure on Serbia over Kosovo-Metohija to focus in February

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Ivica Dacic says the pressure on Serbia over Kosovo-Metohija can be expected to focus in February.

In an interview for Tanjug, Dacic said the Serbian bureau coordinating security services had recently concluded the security situation in the country was stable despite demonstrations during which opposition supporters had tried to force their way into a state institution - the Belgrade City Hall.

The bureau's main message was one of peace and that all problems needed to be addressed within institutions, he said.

He said the demonstrations were globally detrimental to Serbia and could affect investments, tourism and all other preconditions for further development.

When asked if the Serbia Against Violence protests over alleged electoral fraud had to do only with the Belgrade local elections or also with Kosovo-Metohija, in view of reports of evidence of involvement by some foreign intelligence agencies, Dacic said the bureau's session had also addressed the foreign factor, which he noted had certain interests in Serbia.

"Above all, that interest is aimed at introducing as much instability as possible, because if a country is not stable, it is not strong either," Dacic noted.

There are those who would like the Serbian leadership to be unstable and not strong so that it cannot respond firmly to various ultimatums coming from the international community, above all, when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, Dacic said.

There are countries that would like Serbia to take certain steps in February or March that would be important for enabling them to "bring the Ukraine story to a conclusion," Dacic said.

He explained the pressure over Kosovo-Metohija was expected to increase in February as the European Commission and the EU bodies were expected to stop working by March ahead of the upcoming European elections.