For and against Vuciqi's will to normalise relations with Kosovo

The plan was presented to him on January 20th by diplomats of a European-American team in Belgrade, but it is not yet public.

After meeting with them, Vuciq said he is ready “to accept the concept” and “work on implementing the plan to normalise Serbia's relations with its former province, Kosovo”.

Three days later, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has power in Serbia and is guided by Vuciqi, publicly expressed its support for Serbia's president.

What happened in the meantime?

Nearly all political parties in Serbia and other political figures expressed their position on Vucinqi's statement.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but continues to be a taboo theme for politicians in Serbia.

Its independence did not recognise even the parties that were in power before the SNS, which today are mainly in opposition.

Who supports accepting the plan?

Open support for accepting the proposal for Kosovo provided the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

This party has no representatives in Serbia's Parliament.

LDP Chairman Cedomir Jovanovic said through a statement to the media on January 22nd that this proposal is the last “rast that, after decades of scurrying, it points to the Kosovo problem”.

The time we lost ourselves, rejecting previous proposals, made this society the most unhappy in Europe, so today we are drowning in the nationalism that has destroyed us and everything around us”, Jovanovic said.

He added that any future solution would be less favourable for Serbia.
The opposition regional party, the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, (LSV) demanded that Vuciq “accept the agreement on bilateral relations between Serbia and Kosovo” as soon as possible.

“Vucciq should interrupt its undecided policy and save Serbia from new sanctions, economic downturn and destruction”, said Bojan Kostresh, chairman of LSV, on January 21st.

According to him, the only way to develop and modernise Serbia is membership in the European Union.

The party has no representatives in Serbia's Parliament, while it has five representatives in the Vojvodina Assembly.

Serbian Movement for Reconstruction Chairman (SPO) and former head of Serbian diplomacy Vuk Draskovic wrote in his Twitter account that the plan for Kosovo “must be accepted”.

Any other plan would be unfavourable for Serbia and Serbs in Kosovo. Let us remember the experiences and tragic consequences because of all plans that we declined during the breakup of Yugoslavia”, Draskovic said.

In addition to opposition parties, the support also offered former Energy and Mines Minister, simultaneously a member of the Serbian Progressive Party's Headship Zorana Mihajlovic.

She wrote in her account in the Instagram that there is no dilemma and that “to live in the past is not the option”.

“For the Kosovo issue, we are deciding whether to really start solving problems. The problems between us and others around us”, Mihajlovic said.

Plan Publishing Requests

On the other hand, opposition Party for Freedom and Justice Chairman Dragan Gjillas told Serbia's Prva Television on January 22nd that citizens should first see the EU's proposal for Kosovo, which should then be discussed in the Assembly.

The SSP is the largest opposition party in Serbia's Parliament, and its leader is the former Democratic Party delegation, which has been in power before taking over the SNS in 2012.

For me it would be a crime for someone to recognise Kosovo, but for me it would also be a crime for someone to deny future generations and our children a European future. Serbia is a European country. We are a European nation”, Gjillas said.

Former Serbian President Boris Tadic wrote on his Twitter account on January 21st that this agreement concerns our highest national interest “”.

“It is unacceptable for the president of the state to express his readiness to apply the principles of that agreement without broad consultation with competent institutions”, said Tadic, who, like Gjillas, is the former deputate of Democrats.

Serbia's prime minister, Anna Brnabiq, made a post in her Twitter account, accusing the former Serbian government of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Tadic responded by inviting him to a television duel.

If you can publicize such accusations involving higher national interests, you should allow citizens to hear the other side. I invite you to the TV duel as former president and representative of the government you are accusing, not as opposition leader”, Tadic said.

Right, Severe in Her Criticism

Bosko Obradovic, leader of the rightist parliamentary movement Dveri, requested on January 20th the emergency session of Serbia's Parliament, so that, as he said, MPs would get acquainted with the EU proposal, as well as the “risks and challenges with which Serbia” would face.

I am not one of those in the opposition who chant that Vuciq is betraying Kosovo, attacking and destroying it. We have to pressure the current government, both in Parliament and street protests, so that Serbia's state can refuse the ultimatum of the West, or Vuciq resigns if it is an excess burden for it”, Obradovic wrote on Twitter.

Milos Jovanovic, chairman of Serbia's new Democratic Party (DSS) with right-oriented orientation, asked that the contents of the EU plan for Kosovo be published, because, as he said, the state “cannot be negotiated secretly and without the Serbian people”.

“We assess that it is imperative that the requirements for recognition of our southern province's secession be refused, as well as requirements for a kind of membership in international organisations”, Jovanovic said on January 21st.

The rightist movement for the reconstruction of Serbia's Kingdom (POKS) demanded that Serbia's Parliament deputies, but citizens also express their opinion on the plan for Kosovo, reports Serbian news agency Beta.

According to this party, adopting this plan “would be unacceptable without a broad preliminary and public discussion”.

People's Party Chairman and former chief of Serbia's diplomacy Vuk Jeremic wrote on Twitter on January 22nd that “Pristina cannot be allowed seat at the UN”.

Support From Progressives and Coalition Partners

Serbia's Speaker of the Parliament and SNS Deputy Chairman Vadicmir Orliq said on January 23rd that the opposition only wants to attack President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Support also offered Serbian Foreign Minister and Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic, who said attacks on the president only harm Serbia.

Brnabic said comments against Vuciqi present “a shameless desire to gain political power, however difficult times times are for Serbia”. Support was also given by some progressive local committees.

Some media reported that Serbia's president has offered his resignation at a party meeting on January 22nd, after party colleagues have criticised him. However, such claims have not been confirmed or denied until the publication of this article.

Serbia's president attended the Government of Serbia session dedicated to Kosovo on January 23rd. As reported in his office's announcement, he asked the ministers for full commitment, diligence and even more intensive work in the future. /Rel