"Serbia could revoke recognition of 'Republic of Macedonia'"

Serbia is "preparing measures" in case Skopje supports Pristina in international institutions, the daily Vecernje Novosti writes on Thursday.

SOURCE: B92, VECERNJE NOVOSTI THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017 | 14:55
 

The report added that Serbia could decide to "change" the decision to recognize the name of the neighboring country, i.e. to recognize it as "the Republic of Macedonia."

Serbia will resort to radical moves if Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev lives up to his "threat" to vote in favor of Kosovo's membership in UNESCO, the newspaper said.

Vecernje Novosti learned that Belgrade will carefully monitor Macedonia's moves and its stance on Pristina's admission to international organizations, "and as Skopje positions itself towards our national interests, so will we toward theirs."

Authorities in Pristina will have the opportunity to once again raise the issue of Kosovo's UNESCO membership in two years' time - after a failed bid submitted in 2015, when Skopje voted in favor.

However, writes the daily, "Belgrade could activate the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic and political relations with Skopje as soon as in 2018" - as Kosovo Albanians have announced they would next year again seek to join Interpol - after the failed attempt in 2017.

Earlier in the week, Zaev was in Pristina where he met with Ramush Haradinaj, and where he "said with a smile that 'Kosovo can count on Macedonia's support in all processes', but also noted that 'Serbia is (Macedonia's) neighbor'," the newspaper writes.

This statement came a little less than a month after Zaev "promised Serbia's top leaders that Serbia has a sincere friend in Macedonia."

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said this week's move represented yet more evidence of the hypocrisy Zaev and of the government in Skopje. Serbia will know how to to respond to these messages, Dacic added.

Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin also reacted o say that Zaev "does not know how to respect Serbia's friendship," and remarked that President Aleksandar Vucic was right when he said the Macedonian PM "would not keep his word."