Starović: Very good report of the European Commission on the progress of Serbia

Speaking as a guest on RTS, Starović reminded of the example of the recommendations for opening negotiations with Albania and Northern Macedonia, saying that this decision is regularly blocked by EU member states.

"It is our job to continue reforms, aware of the fact that full membership in the EU is our unequivocal interest, but also aware of the fact that it depends only to a small extent on us, and to a much greater extent on the will of the member states", said the State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding the more favorable forecasts of world institutions on the growth of the Serbian economy, Starović said that it is almost certain that the GDP growth rate in Serbia will be above seven percent this year, and that we will certainly be at the top of Europe in that respect.

Starović emphasized that we have all the potentials to become the economic engine of this part of Europe and that it is therefore important to continue with the implementation of economic policies, but at the same time to insist on regional economic integration through the "Open Balkans" initiative.

"I hope that, along with Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania, other Western Balkan partners will recognize this and that we will achieve the great perspective that lies ahead, which is to establish sustainable economic growth rates in the region of over five percent annually in the long run", said Starović.

He explained that in that way we are accelerating our economic convergence with the European environment and EU member states.

Starović said that, regardless of all the political criteria for joining the EU, there is always something to read between the lines, and that is that countries that want to join the EU should at least somewhat approach the European average in terms of their economic performance and parameters.

"Through the development of regional economic cooperation initiatives, we are accelerating the development of our economy and essentially getting closer to the EU", Starović said.

Referring to the recent visit of the head of Serbian diplomacy, Nikola Selaković, to the Vatican, Starović pointed out that it was extremely important, as well as the messages he received at the headquarters of the Holy See.

Starović said that our public must have understanding for the fact that, no matter how complicated the relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church used to be, the relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Holy See are very valuable for us, bearing in mind that it does not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called "Kosovo", as well as that the authority of the Vatican as a state in the international arena is extremely great.

"I would not bid now, but there are certainly at least a few dozen sovereign states, primarily in Latin America, but not only in that part of the world, which in their foreign policy orientation significantly follow the positioning of the Holy See. If, God forbid, such an attitude would change, and we have heard now that it will not, it would have a very negative impact on our national interests", stated Starović.

The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that we must be aware of another fact, and that is that the Roman Catholic world numbers more than 1.3 billion people.

"We have to move from that perspective, which is not only Balkan-centric, but also Eurocentric. The largest number of Roman Catholics in the world live outside the European continent, we are talking about nations with which we have very good and friendly relations, and that is why it is important that this dialogue between Serbia and the Holy See continues to be intense", Starović said.

Commenting on the recent gathering of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Belgrade on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first conference of that movement, and the messages sent and reactions to those messages in the world, Starović stated that Belgrade was the capital of world diplomacy on 11 and 12 October.

"We are still trying to somehow gather impressions, 120 countries were represented at that big conference in Belgrade, of which as many as 50 countries at a high ministerial or highest level when we talk about heads of state and government. Minister Selaković alone had over 40 bilateral meetings, I had about 15", said Starović.

According to him, we will only fully process all the proposals we received in the coming months, and only in the coming months and years will we reap the fruits that resulted from this great conference.

"In any case, that is a great success of the Republic of Serbia. I am sure that our citizens also have reason to be satisfied and proud of that", says Starović.

Starović: Pristina showed the absence of will for any compromise yesterday as well

State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nemanja Starović, stated that at yesterday's technical negotiations in Brussels on registration plates for vehicles, Pristina showed its well-known position and lack of will for any compromise.

Speaking as a guest on the Radio-Television of Serbia, Starović said that Albin Kurti and his associates said very clearly and openly that they did not want to implement the Brussels Agreement and that they did not consider it binding on them, explaining that it was signed by the previous Pristina administration, which they claim were criminals, which is not far from the truth.

In that way, Starović believes, they openly throw a glove in the face not only of Belgrade, but also of the European mediator.

The State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that he believes that we are slowly approaching the moment of truth when we must get an answer to the question whether the Brussels Agreement is in force or not.

"We must get very clear guarantees that if the Brussels agreement is in force, it must be implemented in full, which would be the best possible solution and outcome for us. But, if we do not receive clear guarantees from the European mediator, I am afraid that we will come to a situation where in many segments we will have to go back to the time before the signing of the Brussels Agreement in 2013", says Starović.

He believes that it would not be good and that it would be a kind of forced solution.

Starović stated that Albanian voters showed what they think about Kurti's policy, which is characterized by the absence of any will for an agreement and compromise, which was evidenced by the fact that Kurti lost close to 300,000 votes in the local elections held on 17 October.

"In all this, there is a danger, in accordance with folk wisdom, that the beast is most dangerous when it is wounded. We have a dose of caution regarding Kurti's future moves. I am afraid that in the coming weeks and months, unfortunately, we will witness new attempts by Pristina to destabilize the situation and provoke new incidents", Starović said.

When asked about the statements from Pristina that they will not form the Association of Serbian Municipalities, Starović stated that this is a challenge that Pristina is sending to Belgrade and the European Union, with a clear message from Pristina that they accept only those segments that suit them from the Brussels Agreement.

"It is an urgent need for Serbs. I hope that reason will prevail in the EU itself and that they will understand that this is the only way forward, to form the Association of Serbian Municipalities in the manner envisaged by the Brussels Agreement, or we will enter a phase that will be unpleasant and perhaps mark a turning point", Starović said.