Vučić 'hurts' about the Kosovo – Albania – Croatia alliance, complains to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Kosovo, Albania and Croatia have signed the Declaration on Strengthening Defense Cooperation.

This memorandum, signed in Tirana by the defense ministers of the three countries: Ejup Maqedonci, Pirro Vengu and Ivan Anushiq, aims to promote cooperation in building defense capacities and the defense industry, increasing interoperability through education, training and exercises, countering hybrid threats and strengthening strategic stability, providing full support for Euro-Atlantic integration and regional defense.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated in Brussels that the signing of this memorandum represents a violation of a subregional agreement.

He added that he is almost certain that NATO was not informed of this development.

During a statement after his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Vučić confirmed that this issue was one of the topics he raised during the talks.

Read too Albania, Kosovo and Croatia sign trilateral defense agreement

"This is a violation of the so-called subregional arms control agreement from 1996, but we have noticed that Croatia and some other parts of the region are not very interested in it. I am almost convinced that NATO was not informed and was not even told which agreements were violated," Vucic said, reports Tanjug.

He added that he does not believe that Pristina, Zagreb or Tirana will worry about this.

"It is up to us to highlight this issue to Mr. Rutte, NATO and everyone else, reminding them that this is a violation of an agreement that has been respected since 1996. It is up to us to understand the reality and prepare for the future."

"They have opened an arms race in our region. This is a difficult situation for us, but we have understood their message. We will protect our country, we will stop any potential aggressor, no matter how powerful he is," Vučić declared.

The Serbian President also emphasized that he discussed with Rutte about cooperation, the situation in Kosovo, relations between the Serbian Army and KFOR, as well as developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"This was a successful day for Serbia," Vučić concluded. /Telegrafi/