Vucic: Belgrade isn't abandoning dialogue, compromise; Pristina wants recognition we don't agree to

Photo: Telegraf.rs

How far has Serbia come in the fight against organized crime, how is the immunization of the population and the procurement of vaccines against coronavirus going, how much has the pandemic affected the Serbian economy, but also the rest of the world?

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Political topics, Kosovo and Metohija, but also relations in the region were the issues discussed, as well as what position should Belgrade take in further negotiations with Pristina, as well as Serbia's relations with Montenegro.

Aleksandar Vucic spoke about these and other current topics when he appeared on RTS' "Interview with the President."

About the dialogue with Pristina

When it comes to the dialogue with Pristina, the president said that so far there has been no easy interlocutor on the other side and that he is preparing well and in detail for each meeting.

"(US official Matthew) Palmer is not hiding that the United States expects mutual recognition, as their president wrote in that letter, the European Union wants full normalization and a return to the negotiating table, Belgrade wants compromise, but as far as the Albanians go, I am not sure they want," said the president.

"As for the Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija, we would like all the points from the Brussels and Washington agreements to be implemented. The first is ZSO (Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo), and it must be fulfilled, it is an obligation from April 2013. I don't think they plan to meet any obligations, but with that they have put themselves in an impossible position regarding some things. I'm not one of those who rejoices in frozen conflicts because someone can always unfreeze them,"  he explained.

As he says, Serbia needs peace and security because we are moving faster than others.

"We are in a more difficult position with Biden as the US president. I appreciate him, he is an exceptional politician, but it's harder for us," says Vucic.

About relations in the region

"Some people said that Vucic won in Niksic. My reply is that Vucic did not participate in elections in Niskic (Montenegro)," said the president, when asked about the results of the local elections in the hometown of Montenegrin Prisident Djukanovic, where his party lost power after decades.

"There is a policy of exclusion in Montenegro where they want to expel everything that is Serb. There are proportionally more Serbs in Montenegro than Albanians in North Macedonia, but they have no rights. None of them have been in power since 2006. There were more Albanians and Bosniaks, while there is a huge percentage of Serbs and they had no rights," said Vucic and stressed that he does not hear from Milo Djukanovic at all, that he saw Prime Miniter Zdravko Krivokapic and that he would like both of them to pay an official visit Belgrade.

"The fact that we have our differences and think differently doesn't mean that we should not talk," he added.

About the fight against organized crime

When it comes to organized crime, the president said that individuals have been connected to people from the executive branch and that there is evidence regarding certain names.

When it comes to speculations that Nebojsa Stefanovic was involved in some scandals, he said that he never had him in mind at any moment, and that, although there were things he would hold against him, involvement in organized crime is not an option at all.

"Nobody will be protected, even for those who believe that they have the protection of individuals from the executive branch of power," he stressed.

He said that in recent years we had three murders of persons who were under measures and that someone from the executive power was obviously involved in that.

"No one will go unpunished and they will all be arrested. We have the evidence," said Vucic.

About vaccination

"I postponed my own vaccination because we currently have a shortage of vaccines. We are waiting for a new delivery, next week, so I will go as I announced earlier. Some smaller place, Zagubica or Merosina. Certainly, what we have and those that are certainly arriving, for which we have signed contracts, means we have enough vaccines for all citizens who have expressed interest. I am referring to the data of eUprava (eGovernment)," said the president of Serbia.

According to him, many more doses of the vaccines will arrive in Serbia in 10 days.

Photo: Tanjug/AP/Darko Vojinovic

"We now don't want to administer the first dose without providing a second dose for everyone," he underlined and added that 100,000 people applied for the second dose of the Chinese vaccine alone, to be administered by March 29.

The president said that according to the latest numbers, he saw that the situation in Belgrade was slowly stabilizing for the first time in a long time, although the numbers are still high.

"When you look at it, the percentage of vaccinations in Belgrade municipalities is high, whether they are central or suburban," the president added.

About the new measures

"The situation in central Serbia is very difficult. I hope that there will be no stricter measures," said Vucic and added that it is necessary to vaccinate more people.

Photo: Tanjug/Tara Radovanovic

As the president pointed out, by April 20, we will reach the number of 1,000,000 vaccinated people (with both doses).

He recalled that Serbia "almost did not have lockdowns." He says that we have the softest measures in the whole of Europe. Since March, April of last year, we have not had a real lockdown, Vucic said.

"Thanks to the epidemiologists who understood the need of the state to have the highest (economy) growth rate, to be able to pay for everything. Everyone will eventually come and say, give us something. The state must introduce measures not because it loves them. I hate the measures more than anything. Doctors are fighting to save lives, they're asking for help," the president said and added that the doctors and people's lives must be taken into account.

New state aid package for unemployed, pensioners, hoteliers...

The president of Serbia announced a new package of economic assistance that the state has prepared for musicians, about 3,000 of them who will receive the support in the amount of two minimum wages.

"Those musicians are not registered in the APR, we have found a way to check how many of them there are, about 3,000 through various organizations, will receive support. Whether it will be two minimum wages, I believe that the government will make that decision. Pensioners will receive 30 euros in May and again in November, as will all other adult citizens. In September, all pensioners will receive an additional 50 euros. That is 110 euros for pensioners," he said.

Photo: Tanjug/Sava Radovanovic

Starting in April, the payment of the minimum wage for 1,550.00 workers in the private sector, in micro, small, medium and large companies will also begin. We will give additional support to hoteliers, 350 euros per room, 150 euros per bed, he said.

"We will have additional support for the unemployed, in addition to the 60 euros, they will receive another 60 euros in June. A total of 120 euros," he said and added that there will be no tax increases and that the money will come from growth.

About expensive drugs that the state is buying

President Vucic said that if the doctors see someone who has high blood pressure, and is a risk group, then give them the drug Eli Lilly, they will 95% recover if they report in the first ten days.

"We bought 1,800 of those. Our doctors will have it in the protocol to save people's lives, endangered categories and especially obese people," stated Vucic.

This is, he says, means that "we are spending abnormal amounts of money on it."

"Drugs and vaccines cost us billions. 1,000 euros is the cost of one day of treatment in intensive care, and the average person pays 550 euros a year on average (for health insurance). You have to help the doctors and you weigh it and fight all the time. To keep in mind the lives of people, and number two, lives, but through the progress of the economy," President Vucic stressed.

(Telegraf.rs)