Vucic: Serbian, US views differ on Kosovo-Metohija, Srebrenica

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at the weekend Serbia-US bilateral cooperation was improving both economically and politically but that the two countries had differing views on the Kosovo-Metohija issue and a draft Srebrenica resolution in the UN General Assembly.

"When it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, there is little we agree on. We agree it is very important that peace and stability must be preserved. And for Serbia's part, I promised Serbia will act responsibly and seriously," Vucic told a press conference after a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien in Belgrade on Saturday.

Vucic added that there was good cooperation with the KFOR mission in Kosovo-Metohija and its commander.

"We have differing views on everything else, when it comes to Kosovo and Srebrenica. I am grateful to Mr O'Brien for saying it is extremely important that Pristina must establish a Community of Serb Municipalities and that it is an extremely strong commitment. That has been a big and strong commitment for 11 years already. It has been a dead letter for 11 years now. All of them - both Pristina and the Europeans, who signed that together with us - have been lying to us together for over 4,000 days," Vucic said.

Unlike Pristina, Belgrade has implemented everything it has committed to under the Brussels Agreement, and even some things from the Ohrid Agreement, he said.

"They (Pristina) were not interested in any of that. They have imposed new problems on the Serb population, such as a ban on the dinar," Vucic said, noting that Serbs were getting arrested and beaten up in Kosovo-Metohija on a daily basis.

He said he had also voiced concern over the draft Srebrenica resolution as it would disturb relations in the region.

O'Brien said the international community would do everything to ensure Pristina established a Community of Serb Municipalities.