Vucic: We will safeguard regional stability

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday after meeting with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Belgrade that they had had an open and sincere discussion and that Serbia would safeguard regional stability.

"We discussed stability in the region and the need to have different views, on Kosovo-Metohija in particular. We agree that stability and peace are crucial, not only for people in the Western Balkans but, I would say, for entire Europe as well, and that any escalation or instability is not in anyone's interest," Vucic said at a joint press conference with Pistorius.

He confirmed that he had given his word that Serbia would surprise no one with military or any other moves, but safeguard stability.

"And my word, by the way, means a lot more than many signatures I have seen in the region and Europe alike," Vucic added.

He also said Serbia and Germany disagreed on the issue of Pristina's ban on the Serbian dinar as Belgrade, in line with the UN Charter, believed the ban was completely unlawful and that this was not a matter of any transitional provisions or giving more time.

"Because funding for the health care and education systems is something that is also a part of the First Brussels Agreement from 11 years ago and every other subsequent agreement. I just want you to know that, and that there is no other paper saying otherwise."

He said Pristina's move was a direct provocation aimed at "full ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija."

"As far as Kosovo-Metohija is concerned, our positions are completely different, given that Germany is one of the main protagonists of recognitions of 'Kosovo' and that policy," Vucic said.

"We have a completely different position, aligned with the UN Charter and UNSCR 1244, which is still in force... ...but we understand well that dialogue is the only solution providing a way out of the crisis," he said.

He added that Serbian authorities would continue an inquiry into the September 24 events in Banjska in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, but asked Germany that EULEX finally investigate attempts to kill at least seven Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, including two children shot and wounded just because they were carrying Yule logs.

"We would like to see equal standards there. We have good communication with NATO that is professional and very fair. We will continue to maintain such cooperation in the future as well," Vucic said.

He also noted that EU accession remained Serbia's objective and that, accordingly, very fair elections had been held in the country last year, and added that Serbia would accept all ODIHR recommendations.

Vucic reiterated that Serbia supported the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina as an internationally recognised state and had never questioned it, just like it had never questioned the integrity of Republika Srpska as an entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Earlier, Pistorius said the brief meeting with Vucic had been open and sincere and that they had concluded that Serbia was the largest economy in the Western Balkans and a partner of Germany.

He said being the largest economy in the region also meant having the greatest responsibility and that there was great potential for development through regional integration, which he noted was also important for EU membership.

"That is why stability and neighborly relations are important," he said.

He said they had also discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and agreed that any escalation could be detrimental.

Speaking about his visit to Pristina and the ban on the dinar, Pistorius said he had called for dialogue and that he had made it clear that all legitimate measures must be taken without harming anyone and that there must be transitional periods.

He said it was also important that Serbia continued its investigation into the Banjska events and that the EU-facilitated dialogue must be continued with commitment for the sake of EU accession, as well as that all reached agreements must be implemented.

Pistorius also said they had also discussed the recent Serbian elections and that he was waiting for a report on them.