Dacic: Sanctions on Russia would not change its stance on Kosovo, but our relations would change

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said on Monday he did not believe Moscow would change its stance on Kosovo-Metohija if Serbia were to impose sanctions on Russia, but noted that Serbia's relations with Russia would be different as a result.

Speaking to Prva TV, Dacic said Serbia condemned the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and that principled reasons were behind its refusal to impose sanctions on Russia.

"There are 84 countries, out of 193, that recognise Kosovo-Metohija. If someone raised the question of its UN membership, a vote in the UN Security Council - where Russia and China have the right of veto - would take place first," Dacic said.

Some European countries that are much more developed than Serbia now have much better cooperation with Russia than they did before the sanctions, Dacic noted.

"We have to look after our own interests, to preserve our European path and our national and state interests. Peace in the region and stability, as well as protecting the interests of our people in Kosovo-Metohija, is our interest," Dacic said.

He noted that Pristina's interest was not to implement agreements, but to expel Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija.

He said Pristina's PM Albin Kurti wanted to portray Serbia as a bad guy, and added that Kurti and some Western countries could not wait for Serbia to say it refused dialogue.

"Our policy of being in dialogue is the correct one. We are also receiving praise from the West for our more constructive approach compared to Pristina. President Vucic has said we have an obligation to implement principles up to our red lines, which are a de facto or de iure recognition of Kosovo and UN membership for Kosovo," Dacic said.