Serbian President says the country will react "decisively and responsibly" to Kosovo's possible admission to the Council of Europe

Belgrade, Serbia (Svidomi) — Serbia's president says the country will react "decisively and responsibly" to Kosovo's possible admission to the Council of Europe, the Serbian People's Party's press service informs.

Earlier, Aleksandar Vučić warned of "difficult days" ahead for Serbia and its people. 

The final decision on Kosovo's accession will be made on May 11. Vučić said that the reaction would be tough, but did not specify it.

"I also invite the government, and I myself am ready to hear the opinion of representatives of all political parties in Serbia, both parliamentary and non-parliamentary. I don't want to say what the final reaction will be," the Serbian president said during his address.

Vučić added that the European initiative for Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe also does not provide conditions for its centre, Pristina.

"Although European sanctions against Kosovo are formally in place due to the failure to fulfil the agreement, Pristina has participated in all Western international forums over the past year," the Serbian president adds.

On March 22, Vučić announced that Serbia could withdraw from the Council of Europe if Kosovo was accepted into the organization. However, the Serbian president later rejected those suggestions. Serbia has been a member of the Council of Europe for over 20 years.

In addition to Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe, the Serbian president is concerned about a UN resolution to be adopted on April 27, that is likely to recognize the 1995 massacre of Bosnians in Srebrenica as genocide. The European Parliament, the U.S. Congress and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia have already recognized the killings as genocide.

Serbia has for many years recognized the massacres in Srebrenica, but not the genocide. Vučić sees one of the reasons for considering this resolution as an alleged desire to "punish the Serbian people for their libertarian and independent policies." 

According to the president, pressure is put on Serbia and its people because of its neutrality, its attitude to the war against Ukraine, and its refusal to join sanctions against Russia. Vučić also adds that the West is allegedly under great pressure because of the advance of Russian troops and uncertainty about future developments on the battlefield. 

It will be recalled that in his social media posts, the President of Serbia claimed those were difficult days for the country and its people.