Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Sunday that the authorities in Pristina enjoy the “tacit support of the Western world” in their actions, commenting on the arrest of five Kosovo Serbs earlier in the day on suspicion of war crimes.
“Essentially, they have the tacit support of the Western world for whatever they do,” Vučić said during an appearance on the television programme Između redova on TV Una.
The five men were arrested in a police operation conducted in Suvo Grlo and North Mitrovica. They are suspected of involvement in war crimes allegedly committed more than two decades ago. Vučić described them as “our young men” detained over “alleged war crimes from 20 years ago.”
Reflections on 1999 and Kosovo’s Status
During the interview, which focused largely on current global developments including the latest conflict in Iran, Vučić also reflected on the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia.
He said he believes then-President Slobodan Milošević should have ended the war after several days.
“I think he should have stopped it and said: they carried out an unlawful aggression against us; we must accept certain things and turn to the economy, begin to work, become part of the world and accept that difficult world as it is,” Vučić said. He added that Serbia might have been in a “somewhat more favourable position regarding Kosovo,” though he acknowledged that this would still have been difficult.
Vučić argued that decisions taken at the time of the NATO intervention paved the way for Kosovo’s eventual declaration of independence in 2008, which was recognised by 85 countries that year.
He referred to the political developments following March 17 and subsequent constitutional changes that led to the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the creation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Montenegro’s independence in 2006, and negotiations held in Vienna.
Eighteen years after Kosovo’s declaration of independence, Vučić said Serbia continues to resist recognising it.
“They still have a president they cannot break to accept their independence, whatever they do,” he said.
“Copy-Paste Model”
Asked whether Pristina was following what the interviewer described as a Croatian model of war-crimes indictments, Vučić responded:
“There is no doubt. They imitate them in everything — it is copy-paste. But the essence is that they have the tacit support of the Western world for whatever they do, and that makes the talks extremely difficult.”
Despite this, Vučić stressed that dialogue remains necessary.
“You must be part of the talks. You must not be away from the table, because if you are not at the table — you are on the menu. And I will not allow that,” he said, adding that he attends what he described as the most difficult meetings.
He claimed that meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and other officials are marked by harsh exchanges. Vučić said there had been incidents of intense verbal confrontations in the past, though he declined to elaborate further, noting that former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi is currently detained and unable to respond.
Relations with the United States
Vučić also said relations between Serbia and the United States are improving and will continue to improve.
He stated that Washington had assisted in efforts related to sanctions on Milorad Dodik and had strongly criticised a planned action by Kurti scheduled for March 15.
“They condemned Kurti’s announced action for March 15 more strongly than the Europeans did. People need to know that,” Vučić said.
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