University of Belgrade Rector's Collegium responds to President Vucic's invitation to dialogue

Photo: Nikola Tomic

The Rector's Collegium of the University of Belgrade took under consideration the invitation to dialogue sent by President of the Republic of Serbia on February 3, and a day later stated that, "expressing the unity of the University, a decision was made not to accept the invitation under these circumstances."

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Here is their statement in full:

"A series of inconsistencies in the public statements made by representatives of state bodies does not reassure that the dialogue leading to the fulfillment of student demands is possible, nor effective if it is organized between two parties who do not have a mandate to discuss the demands and to whom the demands have not even been addressed.

The invitation to dialogue comes at a time when all moral and legal norms have been violated, in an atmosphere of general mistrust. As representatives of the University and academic citizens, we are further discouraged about the likelihood of the proposed dialogue taking place, due to the continuous attacks directed against the academic community in the media, and even more brutal, unacceptable, physical attacks in the public space.

The University of Belgrade once again insists on the competent institutions meeting student demands and reminds that dialogue must be conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect between all relevant actors, with trust in the institutions and within the framework of individual powers.

The University of Belgrade is ready to provide students with expert support in order to determine whether demands have been met, to align its further activities regarding the establishment of social dialogue with the decisions of the student councils and thus preserve the unity of the University. We believe that dialogue is a key tool in building a democratic society, and the University of Belgrade, as a representative of the academic community, an important social actor and a respectable interlocutor, is at the disposal of the public and institutions for any topic of social importance, within the framework of (its) competence and expertise.

We thank you for the invitation and assure the president and the public that as long as we work in accordance with the entrusted duties and within the framework of our competences, we work to the benefit of the university community, students and society as a whole. In that spirit, we remain open to discussions, taking full academic and personal responsibility."

(Telegraf.rs)