Vucic: Discussions with Kosovo-Metohija Serbs were difficult

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday evening he had had a difficult conversation with representatives of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs earlier in the day, and noted that there were no easy discussions with EU or US officials either.

"Any discussions are difficult, there are no easy discussions with Lajcak either, I have had discussions with several US officials in the past several days and with several European officials. I spoke with one of the highest-ranking European officials for almost an hour last night, from 11 pm until midnight. The situation is getting complicated, I am very concerned," Vucic said in an appearance on a Happy TV talk show.

Serbia is always ready for compromise, but false mayors must withdraw from municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, he said.

"They should resign, we are ready for compromise, but establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities must begin. We must talk, dialogue is the only cure, but someone please do something at last," Vucic said.

He also said the Serbian army had switched back from full combat readiness to a slightly lower level of combat readiness but still had sufficient troops to be able to help Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija at any time.

When asked if, amid calls to "both parties" to exercise restraint, Serbia, too, could be punished even though it was not to blame for anything, Vucic responded he would not rule out that possibility.

"We will do our best to avert that, I would not rule out that possibility, especially as three or four countries want that to happen. It seems that I do not need to tell anyone what those countries are," Vucic said.