Alexander Vucic today called for dialogue with student protesters and established a new non-partisan movement in Serbia.
On the day thousands of citizens of the Balkan country took to the streets in support of the students' call for a general strike, the Serbian president went to Jagodina (Central Serbia) to launch the new formation, which he launched as his idea at the height of anti-government protests.
Vucic said that everyone is invited to join the new formation.
The Serbian president announced that the country needs new energy, not a return to the past, and added that membership will be possible from March 15 and that everyone is welcome.
„We do not want the return of those who destroyed Serbia and who today would use manipulation to return to power. The movement is for you and because of you, for your future, for what is to come," Vucic said at the meeting in Jagodina.
The Serbian president added that if the students do not want to talk to him, they should publicly say which of their demands have not been met, Serbian media wrote.
"The street will never come to power in Serbia!", Vucic warned, adding that the government "want peace and stability, not anger that comes from the street."
The Serbian president also said that there are dangerous movements in the autonomous Serbian province of Vojvodina demanding that the province acquire the status of a republic and be separated from the territory of Serbia.
The northern Serbian city of Novi Sad is the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, where on November 1 last year, after the collapse of the concrete canopy of the The train station killed 15 people, and two injured are still being treated at the local Clinical Center.
The tragedy in Novi Sad triggered a wave of social discontent throughout the country, which has lasted for two and a half months.
At the first major protest in Novi Sad in November last year, police arrested students and political activists, who were later released from custody, but some of them are facing legal proceedings.
From the podium in Jagodina, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić declared that while in office, "he will not impose sanctions on Russia or other friends of Serbia."
Vučić also said that Serbia will maintain brotherly and friendly relations with Russia and China, and that he will talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days to resolve the situation surrounding US sanctions against the Serbian oil industry.
"Serbia's strength lies in our independence. Let's protect our roots, but also our future," Vučić urged.
During the rally, the Serbian president waved the national flag and thanked everyone present.