In his remarks, Veselinović said Serbia was postponing the resolution of its issues with Kosovo, arguing that this was also affecting the country’s path towards European Union membership.

“We are postponing the resolution of difficult problems with our neighbours, with Kosovo, and we will not join the European Union. That is what citizens will be voting on in the next elections,” he said.

His use of the term “neighbour” to describe Kosovo drew an immediate response from Brnabić, who said it did not reflect the official position of the Serbian Parliament.

“I want to point out that you said something very serious, but I did not interrupt you because of freedom of expression in the National Assembly of Serbia. As Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, I must tell you that when you said ‘our neighbours, Kosovo,’ for the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia they are not our neighbours. Kosovo is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia and an autonomous province. They are not our neighbours. That is clearly your personal position, which is why I did not interrupt you, but it is not the official position of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia,” Brnabić stated.

The exchange took place during a parliamentary debate in Belgrade, at a time when relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain one of the central issues in Serbia’s domestic politics and in the European Union-mediated dialogue between the two sides.