"Might makes right": President Vucic speaks after meeting of Council for National Security of Serbia

Photo: Tanjug/VLADIMIR SPORCIC

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic on Sunday addressed the public after a meeting of the Council for National Security, which he chaired.

Recommended

"We considered three topics at the meeting. One is regional military and political security, with reference to the situation in Europe and the world, the second is energy security, and the third are American actions in the territory of Venezuela. We reached appropriate conclusions. We are aware of the complexity of the position of our country in the region, and of course that complexity will be more and more pronounced, especially considering that the old order in the world is collapsing, that international law does not exist. We, as a small country, must continue to advocate in its favor, but we must understand that international public order does not function at all," Vucic said.

The world is dominated by force, the right of the stronger, he said.

"Might makes right. That is the only principle. Accordingly, we are particularly concerned about the arming of Pristina, contrary to (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244. That resolution has been de facto suspended. They are arming Pristina in a formal way, and a new alliance poses a particular threat to Serbia," he added.

Serbia, the president continued, is carefully monitoring everything.

"We are preparing for defense against those who are making open threats against our country. We believe that we will succeed in maintaining peace in Serbia. We discussed how to continue recruiting for our units, arming and equipping ourselves. How to fill our food, water and ammunition reserves. We have more than enough fuel, as far as the Army is concerned. We will significantly reinforce military capacities in the following year and a half, we will double our military capacities," he said.

That is the only form of protection, and Serbia has to rely on itsefl for protection, he added.

"In the crazy world we live in, it's up to us to be ready, well prepared. That's why there's such a witch-hunt against our Army, against me. I'm proud of our special units. Three special units. We're improving their working and living conditions. Somewhere up to 800 new members, it's the same with our other units, such as the police and the Gendarmerie and SAJ and other units. They must have the best equipment. I'm sure we will preserve peace," said Vucic.

"We are maintaining peace by not attacking anyone, but by at the same time having a great deterrent force. We also spoke about other details, and people shouldn't be worried. At the moment there is no danger from potential aggressors, which does not mean that there won't be, in a few months," he pointed out.

Vucic also commented on the global energy security.

"President Trump set up an organization for the dominance of the US in the energy sphere in the world. It works from the White House, he will do his best to drive out competing countries - China, Russia," Vucic said.

"We gave the order to analyze the new US strategy for national security. The US received the support from only three Latin American countries for this move (in Venezuela). The most important countries reacted strongly - Mexico and Brazil. President Lula is anything but a friend to President Maduro, but Brazil saw things as they are and expressed itself very strongly. European reactions are that they are glad that Maduro is gone, Serbia's position is clear, as with Ukraine. We are a small country, our role is to say that international law has been violated. We want the people of Venezuela to recover and build their country," he said.

The Americans want to dominate the whole world, he added.

"America allowed the export of the second most important microprocessor to China. As well as the talks with Russia. They don't like the European Union or the Davos Forum, they don't tolerate any of that and they brutally push their interests. We must protect ourselves, but we must know not to expect any mercy or help from anyone. Only from ourselves, our economy. We have faith in ourselves and our own forces. No one (else) will fight for Serbia," the president said and added that "we expect such actions to continue."

"No one can help Venezuela, except its own people. I apologize for being brutally honest. It's important for us to keep the peace. We will succeed. As far as energy security is concerned, we expect 85,000 tons of crude oil to arrive by the 15th and the (Pancevo) Refinery to start working on January 17 or 18, as well as to start producing oil derivatives from January 25 or 26. We are now filling our reserves. Fortunately, we managed to build new storage facilities, people don't have to worry. I think that the American goal is complete dominance. By taking Venezuela, Trump's message is that they decide who to install," the president said.

"We will have electricity and gas and oil derivatives and everything else. Today is the 80th day that not a drop of oil has arrived (in Serbia), but you didn't experience any problems anywhere," he added.

The president then took journalists' questions, and commented on Russia's reaction to Maduro's arrest.

"The Russians condemned the violation of international law. At a time when they have their own conflict, which is big, it would be crazy to expect them to help (Venezuela) now. Nothing that happened is unexpected," said the president.

Commenting on the opposition in Serbia, he noted that there will be elections this year, "so we will look at the results."

"Every day they compare me to Hitler, say that my father is not my father, that I am a dictator, that my brother is a criminal, that my son is a criminal, my younger son is a hologram, and so on. Well, that's the kind of dictator I am. I am proud of democracy in Serbia," he said.

The session of the Council for National Security was held in the building of the Presidency of Serbia in Belgrade, with Prime Minister Djuro Macut, as well as ministers Ivica Dacic, Bratislav Gasic, and Nenad Vujic in attendance.

The session was also attended by Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Army Milan Mojsilovic, as well as director of the BIA agency Vladimir Orlic.

(Telegraf.rs)