03:54Serbia: 'No to capitulation' - Thousands rally against Franco-German proposal in Belgrade
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belgrade on Friday to voice their outrage over the EU-backed deal to normalise ties between Kosovo and Serbia.
Footage shows crowds of protesters outside Saint Sava Temple before marching to the Presidency building, chanting patriotic songs and waving Serbian flags.
Demonstrators were seen holding signs and banners with slogans such as, 'Treason', 'No to capitulation' and 'Down with Franco-German proposal'.
"If we lose Kosovo today, tomorrow, Republika Srpska will be lost too. And after that Raska region and some other parts of Serbia. If we don't react on time, there will be a chain reaction," a protester said.
"Who authorized Aleksandar Vucic to sign, accept and implement the Franco-German agreement on the recognition of the false statehood of Kosovo? He has no constitutional powers,” said Bosko Obradovic, leader of the Dveri party and an organiser of the protest.
The protest took place on the 19th anniversary of a day of ethnic unrest in Kosovo in which deadly violence erupted between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs.
The march was also held one day ahead of the next round of dialogue between Serbian President Vucic and Kosovo PM Albin Kurti in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The EU proposal, which is better known as the Franco-German plan is also supported by the United States government.
The plan, which has not yet been made public, has been presented to both sides.
The agreement does include a pledge from Serbia not to oppose Kosovo’s admission to international organisations like the United Nations.
Vucic has previously said his country will never recognise an independent Kosovo. Around half of UN members and five EU nations also do not recognise Kosovo as an independent state.
03:54Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Belgrade on Friday to voice their outrage over the EU-backed deal to normalise ties between Kosovo and Serbia.
Footage shows crowds of protesters outside Saint Sava Temple before marching to the Presidency building, chanting patriotic songs and waving Serbian flags.
Demonstrators were seen holding signs and banners with slogans such as, 'Treason', 'No to capitulation' and 'Down with Franco-German proposal'.
"If we lose Kosovo today, tomorrow, Republika Srpska will be lost too. And after that Raska region and some other parts of Serbia. If we don't react on time, there will be a chain reaction," a protester said.
"Who authorized Aleksandar Vucic to sign, accept and implement the Franco-German agreement on the recognition of the false statehood of Kosovo? He has no constitutional powers,” said Bosko Obradovic, leader of the Dveri party and an organiser of the protest.
The protest took place on the 19th anniversary of a day of ethnic unrest in Kosovo in which deadly violence erupted between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs.
The march was also held one day ahead of the next round of dialogue between Serbian President Vucic and Kosovo PM Albin Kurti in Ohrid, North Macedonia.
The EU proposal, which is better known as the Franco-German plan is also supported by the United States government.
The plan, which has not yet been made public, has been presented to both sides.
The agreement does include a pledge from Serbia not to oppose Kosovo’s admission to international organisations like the United Nations.
Vucic has previously said his country will never recognise an independent Kosovo. Around half of UN members and five EU nations also do not recognise Kosovo as an independent state.