Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, has told the country’s parliament in no uncertain terms that it needs to accept that it has lost control over Kosovo, and that it must seek a compromise to normalise ties with its former province, Reuters has reported.
“We need to recognise that we have been defeated. We lost the territory,” Mr Vučić told parliament during a special session dedicated to Kosovo.
“I do not want to continue with lies and deceit. I have told everyone: There is no Serbian authority in Kosovo except in hospitals and schools,” he said.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO air strikes wrested control of the territory away from Belgrade, ending a brutal counter-insurgency by Serbian security forces.
But Serbia, which under its constitution considers Kosovo an integral part of its territory, has been blocking Kosovo from membership of international institutions including Interpol and UNESCO. It also still provides financial aid to Serbs in Kosovo.
Serbia, however, which hopes to join the European Union by 2025, needs to resolve the ongoing dispute over Kosovo before it can do so.
Kosovo meantime has indicted an ethnic Serb accused of committing war crimes against ethnic Albanian civilians during the 1998-99 war.
Kosovo’s special prosecutor said that the suspect, identified only as Z. Dj., was accused of participating in atrocities committed in the town of Peja, about 85 kilometers west of Prishtina, in March-April 1999.
Citizens of Serbia will make decision at referendum!!!!We will see!!!
Vucic is no Mr. he is biggest lobist for Albanians to have. Kosovo is not his personal property so there is nothing his to give. He is manipulator the best we have unfortynatley, common “liar” time will tell trust me. Kosovo has been Serbian for mileniums so far and that is the way it is going to stay.
No lies no mather how many times repeted can change that.
“We have lost Kosovo” ??? No such thing was stated by Serbian president, I was listening today what he said and among others he stated “We will never recognize Kosovo as a country”. Why and who needs this title is beyond me as it is completely false!
Then say NO to EU. What’s more important? Why is getting into EU so important when so many people want to get out of it? Can’t this man see that once in you don’t get out? Look at BREXIT. So many problems just to leave.
This man doesn’t even ask why so many people are wanting to leave this corrupt soon to die dictatorship and he is so willing to give up a chunk of his country to get in.
Clearly, Serbia needs to get rid of him and now.
It’s about time that they faced reality. You can’t hold an entire area hostage because of the Serb minority of who make up less than 5% of the population. Kosovo is Kosovo.
It will never happend. It is fake and twisted reality- you are living in big fat lie. Best wishes!