Vuciq: Kosovo is not a state, therefore we do not allow karateers to enter Serbia

Asked when Serbia could join the European Union, after considering that based on the budget proposed by the European Commission, there are no signs that any country could join the bloc before 2027, Vuciq says no one guaranteed that his country would be part of the EU in 2025.

They said: If you do things... it was primarily about the agreement with Kosovo. If you solve all problems with Pristina and then everything else, including rule of law and everything we ask of you, then we could become EU members in 2025. And we've been on the road to the EU since 2000. 18 years have passed, and that is why people feel tired from time to time. Yet, there are no better solutions. We'll do our job. We will invest great efforts in trying to find a solution to the Kosovo crisis”, Vuciqi has said in this conversation, broadcast Koha.net.

Euronews reporter Vuciqi asks what this normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia will look like in reality, as last week, Kosovo's karate team was barred from entering Serbia.

We did it the right way. We allowed them entry, but without the state flag of Kosovo. Because we are not state. But not just for us. But for everyone else. And we agreed to come without state flags and there will be no Serbian flags, no participating states. This can be done, without state anthem and nothing else. They said: No, no, no, we don't accept this because they wanted to be banned”, the Serbian president declared.

The journalist tells him that from abroad, last week's move with Kosovo's karate team has looked similar to last year's provocation, when Serbia launched a train in Kosovo with a large Serbian flag and with inscriptions “Kosovo is Serbia” and that this may have been mutual provocation.

There are no mutual provocations. If you tell us that Kosovo is an independent state, is it a major provocation against Serbia? Even your country, where you come from, has recognised Kosovo's independence, is this a big provocation today? Do I view you as a great provocation? Because you have a different opinion about Kosovo's legal status compared to us? We respect the fact that they think differently from us when they speak of Kosovo's legal status. And that's the difference. And you still think it was a provocation that someone wrote down Kosovo was Serbia. Unbelievable. I think Kosovo is Serbia. Or do I provoke you? Or what? Will you arrest me? Kill me? Or what? If that's a big provocation. And at the same time, I'm very willing to talk about compromises and make concessions as much as possible. But not to humiliate the people and risk Serbia's interests”, Vuciq stressed, broadcast Koha.net.

The Serbian chief was also asked about sanctions against Russia and his state's decision to act against European and US states.

Could you imagine imposing sanctions on Russia? Russia, along with China, is the only country that supports us at the UN Security Council when we talk about Serbia's territorial integrity. What do you expect from us? Cut off our legs? And now let's say, okay now, everything's fine. And say yes, when we say "Kosovo is Serbia" is a big provocation. This shows that even you haven't come to me and you don't think you should be neutral about Kosovo's status. No. Although there are five EU states that do not recognise Kosovo's independence. Why don't you tell them, they are provoking Europe on a daily basis”, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq said.