Vucic: Ukraine a friend of Serbia, does not recognise so-called Kosovo

TIRANA - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday Ukraine was a friend of Serbia and that, most importantly, it did not recognise the so-called Kosovo.

Speaking to reporters in Tirana, where he is attending a Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit, Vucic said Serbia stood by its parliamentary declarations and the conclusions of its National Security Council and that Ukraine was going through a difficult period and that "we cannot make any objections to it."

"Ukraine has not recognised Kosovo anywhere. I said in my address that Ukraine is one of the few countries that can talk about territorial integrity because it has not trampled someone else's territorial integrity, unlike the majority of others who now talk about that all the time," Vucic said.

He said the president of the so-called Kosovo had previously said on camera she advocated respect of territorial integrity.

"And then you wonder how such unprecedented hypocrisy can possibly exist," Vucic added.

Having good relations with Ukraine is very important, he said.

"It does not recognise Kosovo and do not forget that a potentially different decision by Ukraine would have a very serious impact on at least two European countries, so I am hoping we will continue to build friendly relations with Ukraine while persevering, in keeping with the decision of the National Security Council, in our policy of friendships with other actors from eastern Europe, including the Russian Federation," he said.