Kosovo–Serbia relations

NEW YORK - A UN Security Council session on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's new semi-annual report on UNMIK, the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija, is slated for April 22, according to the UNSC monthly schedule.

The session has been called by Malta, current president of the UNSC.

BELGRADE - At a meeting with the head of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Bertrand Bouyx on Monday, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said he expected French representatives in the Council of Europe to have more understanding for Serbian arguments at an upcoming session on the so-called Kosovo's request to join the organisation.

BELGRADE - Despite constantly obstructing normalisation on the ground and escalating problems, Pristina has been rewarded with prospects of Council of Europe (CoE) membership, the head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said at a meeting with French MP Bertrand Bouyx on Monday.

BRUSSELS - The EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak confirmed on Monday discussions following Pristina's decision to ban the Serbian dinar would be continued in Brussels on Thursday, April 4, and expressed the hope "the remaining difference" would be bridged.

BELGRADE - The director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Monday Belgrade had understood well the Western policy of double standards after Pristina had not only not been punished for sabotaging the normalisation process but had even been rewarded with prospects of membership in some international organisations.

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Monday Serbia was under great pressure from Western countries, which he noted were trying to push the so-called Kosovo into international organisations in any possible way.

BELGRADE - Due to the overall geopolitical situation, Serbia is paying a high price, and the country is in an extremely difficult situation through no fault of its own, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday evening.

BELGRADE - The director of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic met with ambassadors and representatives of the Quint states - the US, the UK, France, Italy and Germany - and the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia on Friday to inform them of the political and security situation in Kosovo-Metohija, focusing on the most recent round of the Brussels dialogue.

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian Directorate for Cooperation with the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Arnaud Gouillon met with Bundestag member Zaklin Nastic in Belgrade on Thursday to discuss the situation in Kosovo-Metohija and present the latest developments in Serbia's southern province and Belgrade's views on the issue.

BELGRADE - Serbia is a militarily neutral country but, in view of the geopolitical situation, it must engage further on boosting its defence capabilities to protect its sovereignty, Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Thursday.

Vucevic was commenting on negative reactions from the West over Serbia's recent acquisition of a Russian-made anti-UAV system.