BELGRADE, November 2. /TASS/. The West's proposals to recognize Kosovo's independence are an inadmissible disregard of international law, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko told reporters after talks with the head of state.
"Kosovo topped the agenda [during our talks] because it is the most sensitive subject. The concern is very great, of course. The situation is not changing for the better. As of today, the dialogue gives no hope for a solution for the Serbian people. I am not talking about a more substantial settlement, because it is impossible on these bases," Botsan-Kharchenko said.
"The president reiterated that he has always confirmed to his Western partners in Brussels and Washington that he will not support any kind of recognition of Kosovo. He said that he would not go for either de jure or de facto recognition," Botsan-Kharchenko pointed out. The Russian diplomat separately noted that the West's proposal to the Serbian leader to recognize the region’s independence, at least de facto, is an unprecedented violation of international law. "If you think about it, that people officially tell the state: ‘Please recognize us at least de facto.' That this is a trampling of international law is understandable, but this also tramples on the essence of the whole thing, of everything in general. Because in this there is only another wrong position, to find some way to deceive everyone and everything, to close this issue and present it as some kind of incredible progress in the settlement of the Kosovo issue. But we all know that this will not lead to what is most important - solving the problems of the Serbs in Kosovo. Which, of course, is the most important thing for Belgrade and in general, because part of the population does not feel safe and has no opportunity to use its rights," Botsan-Kharchenko said.
President Aleksandar Vucic, after talks in Brussels in October with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Council President Charles Michel, said that Belgrade was ready to implement all signed agreements on normalizing relations with Kosovo, but "Serbia cannot recognize Kosovo's membership in the UN or its independence."