Vucic receives Velika Hoca winery owner: "As hard as it was for you, our powerlessness was even harder"

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic today received the owner of the Velika Hoca winery (that was raided by Kosovo police last week), Srdjan Petrovic, in the building of the General Secretariat of the President of the Republic in Belgrade.

"Unfortunately, we watched without being able to help. As difficult as it was for you, it seems to me that it was even more difficult for us because of powerlessness," the president said during the encounter.

Thanking the family, that brought up their children to stay in their ancestral land, the president said that gifts have been prepared for them.

"I pleaded and begged, but they had no understanding for my children. 13 churches, Decani, the Patriarchate, they were all with us," Srdjan Petrovic's wife said during the reception with the president, describing how she felt in the difficult hour.

"There is no Serb who was not proud of how you held yourselves," the president told the guests.

They also spoke about the family's business, the brandy and wine they make and sell.

"Let me say that I received a special gift from Srdjan, wine from Metohija. Velika Hoca, Kosovo and Metohija, the Republic of Serbia," President Vucic showed the bottle, deducing that this inscription on the label was the reason for the ordeal that the Petrovics went through.

"Thank you on behalf of all of us"

After a part of the meeting between President Vucic and the Petrovic family was recorded, the president stated that he was happy that he could host them.

"To help a little, as much as we can, we have helped and we will help. We talked more about Velika Hoca. We helped fix up the square in that (Serb) enclave, then we discussed what else we need to invest so that our people can stay in their homes. We talked about wine, the imperial red and the Metohija wine... I am grateful to these people for the fact that even when they (Kosovo police) broke into their house with rifles, they did not hide their name or last name or their belonging to the Serb people," said the president, stating that the wine which he received as a gift will get a special place in the Vucic household.

He added that he is proud of the guests, and that he is grateful to them for staying in Kosovo and Metohija.

"On behalf of all of us, a big thank you," said President Vucic.

"I want to thank the president of Serbia, as well as the director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. I owe gratitude to the locals, who all came to our defense as one," said Srdjan Petrovic.

Last Thursday, the police and customs authorities from Pristina confiscated almost all the wine, about 42,000 liters, from the winery owned by the Petrovic family in Velika Hoca.

In response to questions from journalists, Serbian President Vucic said that he wanted to tell all citizens of Serbia that he was proud of the armed forces.

"I almost cried yesterday. I was overjoyed when I saw that unity and the desire to carry out the task given by the state leadership," he said.

"As for the statements, you have to analyze each one in detail. I want to say one more time why all this is happening. A day before it all, (Albin) Kurti said that the demand to form the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO, a Brussels Agreement provision) is silly," he said, stressing that the arrest of Dejan Pantic was not the only reason.

"Where does it say (in the agreement) that you (Pristina) have the right to enter the north of Kosovo and Metohija with rifles? Show me where it says that. That's how they have been tearing apart the Serb Republic (RS), that's how they are tearing apart everything, thinking that it's our duty to play stupid forever, in order to stay in power for one more day. Overthrow me," said the president.

Vucic added that he will present several documents, five agreements, and that the other side should choose at least one that they will respect.

"Do you understand, they don't respect a single one," he said.

"As for peace, yes, we are doing everything. We ask once again that innocent Serbs be released. We have shown the photos with rifles, they have no right to do that. We don't want conflict," Vucic appealed, stressing that there are double standards, and that "the little bit of bitterness he is showing is a drop in the ocean."

On Thursday, the Government will make a decision about sending a letter to the KFOR commander, added Vucic.

(Telegraf.rs)