BELGRADE, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Serbia recalled entire embassy staff from the capital of Macedonia in order to "protect its interests in Macedonia and reexamine our capacities to work under current conditions in that country," Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday.
The staff of the embassy in Skopje was suddenly recalled on Sunday, without any explanation to the public, several months after the new government assumed office in Macedonia, with Zoran Zaev as the new prime minister.
Dacic told Tanjug News Agency that "unambiguous and clear evidence pointed out that there was increased offensive activity against Serbia, with evident presence of a foreign factor".
"We will undertake measures to prepare ourselves to work in such an environment," he said, without revealing the exact reason for the diplomatic move, nor the foreign country involved in the alleged offensive activity.
However, he told Tanjug that if Macedonia votes for Kosovo, Serbia's south province that declared independence unilaterally in 2008, to join UNESCO, Serbia might reconsider its attitude concerning the constitutional name of Macedonia.
Dacic said that a part of the embassy staff will return to Macedonia next week, while "ambassador will return later, after we finish all consultations".
He revealed that he discussed this topic with President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.
Vucic confirmed earlier Monday that "very offensive activity against Serbia and its institutions" was reported in Macedonia by relevant institutions, and that Serbia has to prepare and adjust to new circumstances in order to continue building good relations with that country.
"It is up to us to prepare our staff. Some changes are going to happen when it comes to personnel. We need to protect our friendship with Macedonian people, and to learn how to behave in new environment that was unknown to us just several months ago," Vucic said, calling the move a part of the regular diplomatic practice.
Some local media reported that Kosovo is the reason for the withdrawal of Serbian embassy staff that Macedonian government says it will take into account the position of "the majority of EU countries" when it comes to voting on Kosovo's bid to join UNESCO.
