President Vucic responds to EU ambassador: Kosovo remains territory of Serbia, and reforms are still priority

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath addressed a news conference in Belgrade today.

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Vucic earlier on Thursday met with Beckerath in the Palace of Serbia, where the EU representative handed him European Commission's annual report about Serbia.

Beckerath started by expressing his gratitude to Vucic for the opportunity to present the European Commission document.

"I am especially grateful that we are doing it in this, my favorite building. This report comes at a crucial moment, in the context of a changing geopolitical situation. That is why the EU enlargement is also important. The EU is already changing and is evaluating the effects of new members on the internal arrangements," he said.

Beckerath pointed out that the events in Ukraine clearly showed the importance of (EU) enlargement.

He added that the enlargement process still rests on the principles of merit and concrete evidence of progress.

"Only genuine reforms can bring the candidate countries to the goal. The path to membership is based on reforms and the rule of law. Today's report serves to assess where Serbia stands on the European path," said the EU ambassador.

He said that the report is not intended as a critical view, but as an objective assessment of the situation that points to the areas where progress has been made and where additional efforts need to be made.

"The main conclusion is that the pace of reforms has slowed down, but there have been some positive developments in the previous year," said the ambassador.

Also, there was talk about the degree of alignment of Serbia with EU's foreign policy, with Beckerath noting that the report covers only completed reforms.

"Nevertheless, we welcome the appointment of new members of the REM (Serbian autonomous and independent organization exercising public competencies pursuant to the Broadcasting Law), as well as the work on the electoral roll," said Beckerath.

He also expressed appreciation to all those who contributed to positive developments, including representatives of the government, the opposition and civil society.

When it comes to media freedoms, Beckerath stressed that additional work is needed regarding the freedom of speech, noting that divisive rhetoric has deepened social divisions, and that it is necessary to renew the spirit of dialogue in Serbia.

"Also, Serbia continues to declare EU membership as a strategic goal. We take that seriously. Now is the time to back it up with concrete actions. The authorities in Serbia must avoid anti-EU rhetoric, and the EU expects a proactive approach," he added.

He paid special attention to the rule of law and media freedom, confirming the readiness of the EU to continue providing its support.

"The pace of progress is decided by Serbia itself. I hope that the work on the voter roll and the composition of REM will contribute to overcoming divisions," Beckerath concluded.

President Vucic's address

President Vucic said he was glad to receive the European Commission's annual report regarding the situation in our country, and addressing the EU representative in Belgrade, stated:

"You said that it (the report) is a mirror, but I would say that it is your opinion - for sure not a mirror. I am certainly grateful for everything you said today. I think it's very important for every citizen to hear, in an honest way, what it is that you expect. I will address one area that is extremely important for us. We consider Kosovo and Metohija to be our territory, based on international law, and you said that all obligations from 2023 must be fulfilled. Before that happens, I am certain that the EU wants what was signed 10 years earlier, in 2013, to be fulfilled. But I believe that will eventually happen ."

Commenting on the events in Banjska, the president said he hoped that all those responsible for (other) incidents, where Serbs (in Kosovo and Metohija) were killed or arrested since 2008, would be brought to justice as well.

"I am grateful for all the analyses, and I accept that we are not good enough in the field of geopolitics. As you said yourself, we have a problem with expression. I am not aware of a word we haven't heard in the media against the authorities, which in the West could never be uttered. But, so as not to get into that, my heart and my head won't let me lie, so I will keep it short. Serbia will continue with reforms, we will work hard and diligently, for us the European path is a strategic choice, and that will not change during my mandate," said President Vucic.

He stressed the importance of cooperation with EU partners - and expressed great expectations from a working group, that's dealing with energy.

During his address, Vucic repeated his plea to Dijana Hrka, the mother of Stefan Hrka, who died in the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy a year ago, as well as to member of the Serbian Assembly Ugljesa Mrdic, and war veterans, to all end their hunger strikes.

"Whatever that's worth, I call on them to end the hunger strikes, whatever it's about, I call on them to end that. To end it for the sake of their health, to (avoid) political polarization and for the sake of everything else, but especially for their health," said Vucic.

He added that he considers that important, as well as the fact that it is important to open the possibility to dialogue.

"If we argue for 10, 15, 20 hours, that's always better than to have somebody shoot another person, and one side reacting to that by going - 'it doesn't matter, it didn't happen' - or even worse, to make an attempt to kill a man a relative notion, and accuse an innocent man of attempted murder," the president said.

He stressed that there must be discussion and that he has to offer dialogue.

"As to why some others are avoiding dialogue - that's another matter," said Vucic.

"Did Beckerath hear cheers in front of Assembly and what RTS editor said?"

President Vucic also stated that it should be enough to show Beckerath the cheers heard in front of the Serbian National Assembly, what the opposition press published, and what a news editor from the RTS broadcaster has uttered.

"That must be the peak of the political though mustered by the highly educated elite in Serbia, and it was expressed without any hesitation, followed by every sort of praise from the media they love," said Vucic.

This is how he replied when asked how he sees the European Commission's demands related to media freedoms, and the way of reporting done in Serbia - in the context of a statement made by an RTS editor.

"And as for the concentration of capital, well the greatest concentration of capital is there. It's one thief standing next to another, they fight amongst themselves - who stole what, who is the CEO of what, God knows what's going on there. And they have concentrated everything. Maybe that's what they're referring to, then again, maybe not. It may be they're not thinking straight. I do. I have the right to think. And no one can take that right away from me, as the president of Serbia. But I am ready to talk," said Vucic.

He pointed out that the same media publish stories about "his children being holograms" and similar things.

"You talk about (media freedoms) being threatened. But you didn't say how threatened (journalist) Branka Lazic was, they beat her more times than anyone has mentioned anybody on the other (anti-government) side. Every time N1 and Nova S reporters come (to news conferences), I answer those questions. The latter won't call a journalist and won't answer a single question from a journalist they don't like. And I accept being at fault for that, because I have to be above all that - and it must be true of me, that I don't actually have children, that my brother has no right to sue newspapers for alleging he is a drug dealer and a criminal," said Vucic.

The president pointed out that he never went to court against any media outlet, not even the journalists who perpetuated the worst lies about him.

"Never. So much for pressuring (anyone). But, as a serious and responsible country, we will consider all that (criticism) very carefully," said Vucic.

He noted that RTS announced that it had initiated disciplinary proceedings over an editor saying that people he doesn't agree with (politically) should live to see their children die of cancer.

"And then they informed us that they initiated a procedure, a disciplinary procedure against him. So now, it will take about I don't know how many years, to establish that it was not an affront to anyone, and that he is probably an actual, and unbiased journalist," said Vucic.

The president concluded by saying that Beckerath probably has not been informed about that RTS news editor saying those who disagreed with him are "cattle" and that the person in question stated they hoped each of these peoples' children "will die of cancer."

(Telegraf.rs)