Because of the situation in which she found herself Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) relations between Belgrade and Moscow have become strained, the President of Serbia admits in an interview with the German "Zideutsche Zeitung". Aleksandar Vučić.
He says that the Russians have always been a reliable partner for the delivery of gas. "But then I was fiercely attacked in the Russian media, more fiercely than some Western leaders. We have traditionally had good and friendly relations, but now I simply had to protect Serbia's national interests. We are nobody's puppets."
Photo: AP Photo/Alexander ZemlianichenkoWhile relations were much better: Vladimir Putin and Aleksandar Vučić in the Kremlin
Vučić claims that he "persuaded" Moscow for Serbia to buy a stake in NIS, but that he never invoked the right of first refusal. "I kept asking them: For what reason do you not want to sell to Serbia? I never got a clear answer."
When asked if this has everything to do with the fact that Serbia exports weapons to Ukraine, Vučić claims that "not a single bullet was exported" to Ukraine, but that Serbian warehouses are "crammed" with grenades and ammunition, so it must be sold somewhere.
"And what happens when there is a war somewhere? Then things end up one way or another in the war zone," says Vučić.
I to Putin, and Putin to me.
He adds that, during the meeting in Beijing, he showed Russian President Vladimir Putin a list of countries to which Serbia exports and asked him where the problem was.
"He pointed to Poland, but only cartridges for hunting weapons go there. In truth, we export to the Czech Republic, Great Britain and some other countries, and in the end it ends up in Ukraine," says Vučić.
He is not happy with Trump's decisions
Vučić said that he was "not happy" that US President Donald Trump put sanctions on NIS into force, as well as some of his other decisions.
"The Americans have helped us a lot in the region because they ensured peace and stability in Bosnia. But I hoped they would be tougher on the Kurti regime in Kosovo. I wouldn't have mentioned it if you hadn't asked me, but they are provoking all the Serbs living in Kosovo. And then that so-called Peace Committee, where Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani acts as a star. We didn't expect that from the Trump administration."
Photo: AP Photo/Evan VucciAnd Donald Trump Vučić now has all kinds of things to complain about
When asked about Jared Kushner's now-cancelled project on the site of the General Staff, Vučić said that the General Staff is not a cultural monument. "A building from the era of socialist Yugoslavia, built by a communist who expelled all dissenters from architecture and construction."
It is a lie that a student was beaten in Novi Sad
For Zidojce Zeitung, Vučić also spoke about the media and "blockades" that supposedly "dehumanize" him and ignore the "highest percentages of growth in the country's history."
"In the center of Belgrade, where I have the most critics, the average salary is higher than 1.700 euros, higher than in Slovenia," says Vučić.
When asked about the violence against students and other protesters, he says: "There was almost no violence against the Protestants, but there was against the police. Two of our men were injured, one of them with a pistol of Austrian origin. And two hundred meters from here, another was stabbed, he lost a kidney."
When reminded by journalists that SNS supporters beat up a female student in Novi Sad, Vučić now says: "That turned out to be a lie, but the prime minister resigned anyway. Would something like that happen in Germany."
If he kills someone, Žmirić will kill me
Vučić's answer to the question about the new commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit is particularly bizarre Igor Žmirić. The journalist reminds that Žmirić has a rose tattooed on his neck, a sign of loyalty to the Red Berets and their former leader Milorad Ulemek Legija.
Photo: Tanjug/Vladimir ŠporčićPresident of Serbia Alčeksandar Vučić and SAJ Commander Igor Žmirić
"He is a professional, he has no corrupt connections with any businessmen," says Vučić. "He's not going to kill anyone, and if he does, he's going to kill me."
He wants to coach children in basketball
Vučić repeated the idea he is pushing with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama about admission to the EU common market and Schengen, but without the right of veto in Brussels. The journalist asks if he wants the benefits of EU membership, but without pressure on Serbia to establish the rule of law?
"No, the pressure needs to stay and we have to face it. They can always tell us - you're not good enough, you can't be here anymore."
Photo: Tanjug: Vladimir ŠporčićAleksandar Vučić in the holiday Ćaciland
As for the "Mrdić Laws", he is waiting for the evaluation of the Venice Commission and says that he will withdraw them if it is negative.
On the last question, how he sees his future, Vučić says that he will certainly not change the Constitution in order to be president for the third time.
"I would like my daughter to found a private company for political consulting here in Serbia, I could be her advisor. And of course, coach children in basketball. Here we don't have official competitions for children from 10 to 12 years old, I would like to change that."
