Vucic announced the continuation and deepening of the crisis in Kosovo

Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic said that the crisis in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija continues and deepens. He said this on August 27 during his televised address to the citizens of the republic.

“The crisis continues and deepens anyway, it is important that we respond peacefully and that we are not blamed for the failure of the negotiations. <...> I am afraid that the crisis in Kosovo will not end before October 30, but will deepen even more. We have nowhere to go”said the president.

He also pointed to the futility of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina mediated by the European Union. According to Vučić, the Serbian government is being forced to introduce not only Kosovo-style license plates, but also new conditions for crossing the administrative line.

Belgrade insists that all relevant documents contain a note “does not imply recognition of Kosovo’s independence and do not cancel UN Security Council Resolution 1244.”

In addition, Vucic stressed that the authorities of the republic want to receive guarantees of such agreements from the European Union.

“There is nothing we would like to talk about before the formation of the Community of Serbian municipalities. We are waiting that in two or three or four days we will receive a final answer from the EU whether they guarantee us our agreements. If not, then we have no agreement on either one question, and if guaranteed, then there will be one small question”– concluded the leader of the republic.

Recall that the situation in Kosovo escalated after the Kosovo-Albanian authorities began the forced re-registration of Serbian license plates and documents in July. After popular unrest, the procedure was postponed until 1 September.

On August 17, Vučić noted that Belgrade had no plans to conduct a military operation in Kosovo. But he expressed hope that a solution to the conflict would be found through a rational approach and dialogue.