Selaković: Latin American countries see Serbia as a desirable partner

Selaković, while making a guest appearance on Pink, stated that the visit to Cuba, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Colombia was an opportunity to meet with the ministers of foreign affairs of Latin American countries, as well as with the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, who also spoke highly of Serbia, and that a total of 11 memoranda, agreements and declarations were signed.

The head of Serbian diplomacy emphasized that he is full of pride when high officials on different meridians speak highly of Serbia.

Selaković said that, in his capacity as a special envoy of the President of Serbia, he attended the inauguration of the new President of Colombia, Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego, and that the visit to Bogota was an opportunity to meet with a large number of colleagues from that part of the world, among whom was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, a country that with firm and principled support for Serbia on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

According to his words, he also met with the foreign ministers of Paraguay, Mexico and Peru in Bogota.

Minister Selaković reported that he had highly important discussions with Cuban officials about improving cooperation.

“The overall motif in all the talks, which makes me proud, is that all of the speakers showed incredible respect for the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and for the reforms that were implemented. They see Serbia as a desirable partner," said the head of Serbian diplomacy, who in visited the countries of Latin America from 4-12 August.

Selaković stated that we traditionally have friendly and close relations with Cuba and Venezuela, but he was also surprised that, despite 140 years of diplomatic relations, there is no information in our archives about any of our foreign ministers visiting Costa Rica.

“Costa Rica was one of the first countries to recognize the so-called Kosovo. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica visited Serbia twice, in 2007 and 2012. We never went to that country to present our arguments," said Selaković.

When asked about expectations from the upcoming meeting between President Vučić and Albin Kurti in Brussels, Minister Selaković said that our president will insist that Priština fulfil its obligations to the last point of the Brussels Agreement and that he will not allow us to be blindsided when it comes to the Community of Serb Municipalities, which must be formed in the manner provided by the Brussels Agreement.

The head of Serbian diplomacy stated that President Vučić defends Serbia and represents its interests in the best possible way and that Serbia has the best possible representative and negotiator.

“I am convinced that it will be the same this time around as well. The situation is very tense and burdened by the lack of commitment and behaviour of Priština. That is a cause for concern. A bigger cause for concern is that Western officials who have recognised their separatism give Priština leverage. Serbia has the best possible representative and negotiator who does not have it easy at all. No one will represent our interests and nor our position regarding the defence of international legal principles and territorial integrity and sovereignty better than President Vučić,” stressed Minister Selaković.

When asked about Kurti's allegations regarding the mutual recognition and attempts to accuse Belgrade of attacks and tensions, Selaković says that anything can be expected from Kurti because he is an unpredictable figure and therefore one should not hope for anything good from him.

Selaković emphasized that Vučić will defend Serbia's vital interests in the best possible way and that, since the Brussels Agreement was negotiated, he has not given in to pressure, and that he is convinced that this will be the case this time as well.

“When such a negotiator goes to Brussels, they know he won't be easy, but Vučić is consistent, if something is agreed upon, then that has to be respected,” said Selaković.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Priština cannot turn a blind eye to stories about the formation of the CSM within the so-called of the Kosovo Constitution.

“Their problem is that Aleksandar Vučić knows everything very well, every full stop and comma in the Brussels Agreement, he knows what has been agreed and foreseen and you cannot play with him. He reasons well and stands his ground on positions that cannot be changed or avoided – protection of state interests and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Selaković said.