The current Minister of Economy and Regional Development in the Government of Serbia and the President of the G17 Plus, Mladan Dinkic yesterday stated that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was the first step towards the country’s EU membership, and those who say that Kosovo is lost with the signing of the agreement talk nonsense.

Dinkic said that Serbia came to signing an agreement on EU membership, so none of the member-states would ask Serbia to give up its right on Kosovo or recognize the province’s independence.

He explained, “Ireland never recognized Northern Ireland’s independence, and entered the EU. No one will ask us to give up on Kosovo. We will never recognize Kosovo independence, but we will have to fight with diplomatic means in the UN. However, we will have no joy if we just fight diplomatically and don’t strengthen Serbia economically, which is impossible if we don’t enter the EU soon.”

Dinkic warned that should the SAA be rejected, there would be no investment or donations to Serbia, and added that he was convinced that citizens on May 11 would vote for the “For a European Serbia” list to prevent the SAA being scrapped.