Brnabic says it will be easy to write her PM's exposé: Goals are clear, Kosovo and energy are priorities

Photo: Nikola Tomic

Ana Brnabic will be at the helm of the 17th Serbian Government since the reintroduction of a multi-party system in the country, which - if elected by the Serbian National Assembly - will be her third consecutive term in office as prime minister.

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Brnabic believes that it will be easy for her to write her keynote speech to address the Assembly, adding that the most important task is to preserve peace and stability.

"I believe that it will be easiest for me to write my third exposé, because the challenges are clear. Preserving peace and stability is the most important task. Kosovo and Metohija worry me the most. President Aleksandar Vucic took a large part of the work upon himself. Energy is also a priority, it is now a matter of national security. It will be easiest for me to write the exposé," the prime minister told RTS.

She stressed that the world is on the brink of the third world war.

"Agreement and compromise have become ugly words, weakness, not strength, no one is ready to listen to anyone," said Brnabic.

"I hope for a new government by the end of September"

Brnabic said that she hopes that by the end of September we will have a new government, which, as she says, requires a brave team above all.

"I hope by the end of September, but talks with potential coalition partners are not easy, nothing is taken for granted and I think that's expected in politics," added Brnabic.

She pointed out that she thinks what was decisive in the choice between her and Milos Vucevic as PM-designate was the fact that the times are so difficult, as well as the fact that she knows the government's system, because that is important in difficult times.

However, she stressed that this is why they agreed that this government will last until 2024. "Ultimately, it is important that you have new energy and new ideas, and what I think is key and good for our country and people is that roles are not the most important thing, but results," added Brnabic.

"I think that the most important thing about the agreement regarding the government is that we all realize how difficult the times are and how important it is to have a team that is brave, efficient, that is ready to sacrifice its time, because there really is no room for anything other than dedicated work," stressed Brnabic.

Who will be first deputy PM and deputy PMs

When asked if Ivica Dacic will be (first) deputy prime minister, Brnabic said that she assumes so, and that this would be natural and usual.

She also said that Milos Vucevic and Sinisa Mali will probably be her deputies, and that all three will also serve as ministers.

Asked whether it is true that four ministerial portfolios will go to the SPS, Brnabic said that she cannot talk like that, because this is not about simple numbers, but about who can contribute to what.

"We have some ideas how the government could be even more efficient and how the portfolios could be divided, but we will see," said Brnabic.

When it comes to how much support she expects in the Assembly for the new government, Brnabic says she expects a "safe, stable majority."

"New government will be one of continuity"

She stressed that the new government will be a government of continuity.

"Serbia began to change in an incredible way since 2014, and since then there has been a policy of continuity - fiscal responsibility, economic stability, an ever-improving framework of the investment environment, which means constant growth of salaries and pensions," said Brnabic.

She pointed out that the government will insist on completion of many infrastructure projects.

"Of road and railway infrastructure, but also the environment, the most practical things - sewage networks, wastewater treatment plants, but we also have some other things - to build digital roads through every village, to prevent internal migration," she added.

"In addition, more investment in modern technologies is important, and the next focus is development of artificial intelligence.

These are the things that we have to continue to do despite all the challenges, but as I said, the biggest focus is peace, stability, Kosovo and Metohija and energy," stressed Brnabic.

Complex situation in Kosovo

Asked why she said that a period of instability awaits us from September 1, Brnabic replied that we have a very complex situation in Kosovo, but that the president managed to make a good agreement within the limits of what is possible when it comes to ID cards.

"President Vucic managed to make it all remain the same and we (now) only have a big disclaimer that says this does not imply recognition of the so-called republic of Kosovo and that Serbia is not brought into question, and that this is in accordance with UN Resolution 1244," she said.

However, she noted that what has not yet been resolved is the issue of license plates.

"We haven't agreed on anything regarding the plates, Albin Kurti is not ready to compromise, the talks are still ongoing," she stated.

Brnabic pointed out that Pristina will start implementing that on September 1.

"You don't know what can happen, we have seen so far that Kurti is prepared to do anything and that the only thing he doesn't want is peace, and that instability serves him as an alibi for all the other problems he can't solve," she stressed.

In this sense, Brnabic added that there are constant power cuts in Kosovo and Metohija now, every day, as well as that they (Pristina) are unable to provide enough electricity, and it's only August.

(Telegraf.rs)