Vucic: We cannot change policy as soon as somebody wishes that, hear us out

If we want to go to the EU, we need a bilateral approach, to feel respect - said Vucic

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said today that he conveyed the message in Davos that Serbia cannot change its policy "at somebody's will" and stressed that Serbia is on its way to the EU and is grateful for the support it receives from it, but Serbia's position also needs to be understood, rather than to just be repeating what is expected of it.

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"If we want to go to the EU, we need a bilateral approach, to feel respect," Vucic told TV Pink in Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.

When asked about the amount of diplomatic dialogue conducted during the "Diplomacy and Dialogue in the Western Balkans" panel, Vucic said that the language was decent, but that he heard from people from the West who attended, and they were many, that it was quite depressing.

"Because they expect some enthusiasm and optimism, and there is no such thing," said Vucic.

He stressed that there is a big drop in EU's popularity, not only in Serbia, but also in North Macedonia.

"Where Macedonians are the majority, there's a question mark whether people would and how they would vote today (on joining the EU). Somebody has to stop and think why that is the case. Let it be the fault of both us and the Macedonians, but it must also be the fault of someone else, it must be the fault of some of the member states, or Brussels, and elsewhere, it cannot be just our fault," said Vucic.

He added that he stressed during the session that Serbia is on the European path, although most citizens today are against it.

"But Serbia cannot change its policy as one day someone thinks that policy should be changed. Serbia is on the way to the EU, that is the only way that Serbia has and we are grateful for all the money, for all the support... It is huge, and we appreciate that, but don't do it every day, instead of (talking about) what you did for us and what we are doing together, to be listening to messages, 'Recognize Kosovo, impose sanctions against Russia...' Slow down, we have our own state and our own interest," said Vucic.

He assessed that it sounds hypocritical when it is said that territorial integrity is the highest value, which must be protected - while the citizens of Serbia remember what happened 23 years ago (NATO bombing).

"Back then territorial integrity of one country was not particularly important," stated Vucic.

He added that this is why the position of Serbia must be understood.

"You can't pretend that everything is the same and that everything has to be the way you want it. You have to understand Serbia, you have to try to understand and hear. We know it's in the past, but listen to our frustrations, listen to our suffering. Hear us out, instead of repeating every day what we know, what you expect and what you think. We have our own brains, our policies, our head and our country, as well as our people and our citizens," said Vucic.

(Telegraf.rs)