VUCIC'S INTERVIEW WITH FRANFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Merkel's decisive role

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic expects that this two-day conference on the Western Balkans, which starts today in Vienna, will lead to progress on the issue of refugees, and regional integration.

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In the Austrian capital, governments of all the countries in the Western Balkans will be present, as well as high representative for EU foreign policy Federica Mogherini, Austrian and French officials, Italian and, of course, German.

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"Chancellor Angela Merkel plays a decisive role, she is the most important European leader and our hopes are her concern," Vucic said in an interview with German "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". Talking about refugees from the Middle East, the Serbian Prime Minister said that he does not ask for money from the EU, but he says it is important to find a comprehensive solution to the problem between Brussels and those that are not EU members - one, he said, that is a pan-European solution.

Foto: Marko Todorović

"We are a poor country and these people do not want to stay here - they want to go to the EU," said Vucic, stating he supports the plan in five points of the head of Austrian diplomacy Sebastian Kurz. The plan, he says, provides assistance to the Western Balkan countries and for Europe to agree on a single policy for asylum seekers with a binding quota of receipt.

Vucic said that in Serbia the number of refugees is growing and up to 3,000 newcomers register daily, warning of problems when winter comes. "Their average stay since Hungary raised a fence has increased their stay from two to ten days, and it will only continue growing. Most of them travel further, but we have about 10,000 people in the country at all times. The situation will become more severe, when winter arrives. We are expecting to have twice as many. That is why we are preparing three new reception centers," said Vucic.

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Foto: Tanjug/Sava Rdaovanović

When asked whether the EU, which plans major centers in Greece and Italy, should support the efforts of Belgrade when it comes to refugees, although Serbia is not an EU member, Vucic said Serbia is welcomed. "We are a poor country and these people do not want to stay here, but go to the EU. So far we have received only 390,000 euros from Brussels. I do not ask, however, in the first line for money, but that we find a comprehensive solution to the problems between the EU and those countries that are not EU, a pan-European solution," Vucic said.

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When asked whether Serbia, which is not an EU member, was ready to accept refugees Vucic said yes and pointed out that Serbia stands behind its humanitarian and European responsibility and that is Serbia's readiness to take part, higher than in some EU countries. "For example, raising the wire in Hungary does not solve none of the problems. In my country there are politicians who now want a similar obstacle towards Macedonia. That's not acceptable, "said the Serbian Prime Minister, adding that he sees the mistakes in the south and the example of Greece. Greece, where many people first come to the ground of the EU, registering only 10 per cent of refugees, he said, pointing out that Serbia registered 90 percent.

Foto: Marko Todorović

At the conclusion that from Serbia to EU run thousands of people, these being mostly Roma, Vucic said Serbia needs to better integrate the Roma, that he is working on it, but that they are not persecuted. "Roma are not exiled and turn their back to Serbia for economic reasons. On average, each refugee in Germany has a 580 euros monthly, without doing anything. In Serbia, however, the average wage is 400 euros. Incentives to come to Germany are therefore high, even when a person stays there only five or six months. Germany should reduce such benefits to 200 euros, thereby immediately reducing refugees from the Balkans by 80 percent, "said Vucic.

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When asked to comment on the economic situation in Serbia, Vucic said that the country was before the bankruptcy in 2014, and that "almost Greek relations ruled." "It was connected also with the terrible floods," said Vucic, adding that, however, cuts in pensions and salaries of civil servants were painful, but profitable. He stressed that the Serbian defricit of the current year is below the Maastricht criteria and that the IMF repeatedly revised the growth in Serbia. "This is noticed by German investors. German companies employ 30 000 people in Serbia and, together with Italy, Germany is our most important economic partner, " he reminded.

Foto: Marko Todorović

Regarding the relations with Russia, he said that the difficulty is the dependence on Russian gas, and pointed out the problems with the South Stream project and warned of possible problems in the coming years. Stressing that the tanks are full for the winter, Vucic said, Serbia, if the Russians, however, are no longer directing the gas through Ukraine, will have great difficulties in the coming years.

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When asked about the progress of accession negotiations with the EU, Vucic said they are not going as fast as Serbia wishes and expressed hope that the first two chapters be opened soon. "We want to become EU members before 2025. So we finish all our homework, also in the fight against corruption - the laws are there, and corrupt people have been arrested and accused"  Vucic said, adding that he, however, does not reveal that the judiciary does not work very effectively. "That's why we need the support of the EU," said Vucic and reiterated that Kosovo is the biggest stumbling block in the negotiations, adding, there is progress, such as progress on the Serbian community in the north.

He expressed his firm belief that relations between Albanians and Serbs can not stand in the way in the well needed integration of the Western Balkans. "Our goal is the elimination of all tariffs and the creation of a single market. I'm counting that the share of the Western Balkans in the foreign trade of Serbia will increase from 17.5 percent to 25 percent in two-three years,"said Serbian Prime Minister.

(Telegraf.co.uk)