Hundreds rally in Serbia's capital against talks on normalization with Kosovo

BELGRADE, Serbia

Hundreds of Serbian nationalists gathered in the capital Belgrade on Wednesday and demanded that the government reject a Western plan on normalizing ties with Kosovo and withdraw from negotiations.

Protesters gathered in front of the presidency building carrying banners that read "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia," "No surrender," and “Betrayal of Kosovo is betrayal of Russia!”

They blocked traffic and at one point tore down the metal fence next to the presidency and approached the building, shouting: "Where is (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic?”

The group then threw eggs at the windows and threatened Vucic's life before police detained some of them.

Their main demand was that Vucic withdraw from the negotiations on Kosovo with Western countries and that the Association of Serbian Municipalities not be formed.

Vucic told a local TV channel that the protesters called for violence and asked what Damjan Knezevic of the ultranationalist People's Patrol meant when he addressed the government, saying: "You are fearing riots. I swear to you, we are ready for more than that."

"Do you really think it's possible, you think there won't be an answer to that? The state will react very efficiently, very quickly, very seriously and very responsibly,” said Vucic, accusing the protesters of being anti-Serbian and receiving funding and support from “a foreign country.”

He added that all those who threatened to kill him and pledged riots if Belgrade attempts to improve ties with Kosovo will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

"Those who think they can bring down Serbia with their untruths, their brutal lies, those who think they can bring down a serious state with threats, with a few guns, their connections they have in some foreign country, the support they receive in money, mostly in cash from some foreigners, and justifying it with great patriotism, and as they do a lot of good things for their country, they can never beat Serbia," said Vucic.

Belgrade Senior Public Prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said all those who threaten the holders of the highest state positions and all members of extremist groups who threaten the safety of citizens will be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, another member of the ultra-right group People's Patrol, Dejan Bobocek, was detained and found with a rifle with an optical sight and ammunition in Novi Sad, the Ministry of Interior confirmed to the media.

- Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process

The European Union requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement that can resolve issues between the two countries for progress in their integration process with the bloc.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member states including the US, the UK, France, Germany and Türkiye recognizing it as a separate autonomous country from its neighbor. But Belgrade continues to regard it as its territory.

Lately, the parties have been negotiating what is popularly known as the Franco-German proposal.

President Vucic said in October that Germany and France offered to expedite Serbia’s EU membership process if it recognized Kosovo’s independence and allowed it to become a member of international organizations.

According to the leaked proposal, Kosovo should also allow the establishment of a union of Serbian municipalities in the north, where many Serbs live.

EU officials hope negotiations on the plan will be completed in the spring.

Brussels has facilitated the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue.