Selaković with Escobar and Lajčák on regional issues and dialogue between Belgrade and Priština

03. Feb 2022.
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković had a trilateral meeting today with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar and EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Priština Dialogue and other regional issues in the Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčák.

Foreign Minister Selaković noted on the occasion, that Serbia is firmly on the path to European integration, that it is fully committed to the reform process and the improvement of all the segments of our society, and that he hopes that such a commitment will be valorized by the opening of new negotiation clusters.

Mr. Selaković also underscored our true commitment to regional cooperation, preservation of stability and diplomatic resolution of open issues, and pointed out that peace and stability are the topmost interest of Serbia and a precondition for the continued progress of the country.

The interlocutors discussed a number of regional issues, and Foreign Minister Selaković pointed out that Serbia is consistent in its tradition of non-involvement in the internal affairs of neighboring countries and is firm in the position that all disagreements need to be resolved through democratic political dialogue.

As for the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, Mr. Selaković told his interlocutors that we are prepared to continue the dialogue and open to reaching a compromise agreement that will be mutually acceptable.

Mr. Selaković also pointed out that Belgrade has met nearly all its obligations stemming from the dialogue, whilst Priština, even though the Brussels Agreement was signed about nine years ago, hasn't implemented its principal part, namely the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

Foreign Minister Selaković thanked his interlocutors for their personal engagement in that process, but also warned of the danger of Priština's constant efforts to rely on unilateral moves to render the dialogue meaningless and destabilize the region.

Referring to the issue of organizing the upcoming Serbian elections within Kosovo and Metohija, Mr. Selaković stressed the importance of solving the issue as a matter of priority, reminding that in the past two decades all the elections organized by Belgrade had been also implemented in our southern province with OSCE assistance.