Dacic: Rewarding Pristina counterproductive, EU demonstrating double standards

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said on Wednesday rewarding the provisional institutions in Pristina with a decision on a start of visa liberalisation would be counterproductive because the Pristina authorities were obstructing a continuation of the dialogue with Belgrade and posing a threat to peace and stability in the region due to their unilateral moves.

"That is not good for the EU either because it shows that it (the EU) has no authority and that it has double standards. I do not know what kind of a message that would be for Serbia, which has been fair and a predictable partner throughout all these years, yet it constantly faces threats, pressure and conditions, unlike Pristina's representatives, who practically get rewarded for their unfairness and failure to meet their international commitments," Dacic said in a statement to Tanjug.

That is not a good message to send, Dacic said in a comment on a report that EU FMs have agreed in principle to take the first step in the procedure for a joint decision to start visa liberalisation for holders of passports issued by the Pristina provisional institutions.

"The Republic of Serbia has never been against citizens from our region having the right to travel to EU member countries without visas. This is about something else. A few days ago, we saw that the provisional Pristina institutions pose the main problem in implementation of the Brussels Agreement and a threat to regional peace and stability," Dacic said.