Vucic: Michel said EU looking for solution to dinar issue

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday evening his phone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel earlier in the day had not been an easy one but that they had agreed on the issue of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo-Metohija.

"He told me they (the EU) were looking for ways, looking for a solution," Vucic said on an RTS talk show.

He also said the EU must assess its strategic interests and offer something to Serbia.

He said he had told Michel everything he had regarding the Banjska case and that Michel had been fair and respectful of Serbia.

"He asked me: 'You know everyone is talking about Banjska and mentioning Banjska?' And I told him everything I have told you, too: 'You know, we perceive that a bit differently than you do, but our relevant state authorities are working and will raise indictments for certain criminal offences in line with the law,'" Vucic said.

Asked if he was waiting for a call from Brussels, Vucic responded that Belgrade was waiting for an invitation to dialogue but that there was nothing to talk about.

"You do not even know what to talk about when that man (Pristina's PM Albin Kurti) is unwilling to talk about a Community of Serb Municipalities or the dinar, when he is lying to them (Brussels) about a three-month suspension when, in fact, there is no suspension whatsoever because he is halting the dinar at the administrative line," Vucic said.

He said Kosovo-Metohija Serbs receiving incomes from the Serbian budget must be provided with access to their money.

"A solution must be found in the days ahead... Those people live off salaries coming from us," Vucic said.

He noted that there was no going back to the past.

"They (Pristina) will not do that, and they will have covert, tacit support from certain factors of power that will always be trying to create a balance between Belgrade and Pristina and look for someone to blame in Belgrade as well," he noted.