Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, commenting on the protests and counter-protests in the country, said that he was pleased that there were no conflicts anywhere with those who think differently, and stressed that they also need to be talked to and that problems must be solved in order to save the country, reports "Tanjug".
Vučić said that people who want to save their country must show "common sense" and patience, since those who disagree with them and organize blockades are "brainwashed".
He pointed out that participants in anti-blockade rallies must show that they are against violence and that the smarter ones will back down.
"We must constantly extend a hand to them, invite them to dialogue. You see, they did not want dialogue with us, they wanted dialogue with those who hate Serbia and want them to impose sanctions against Serbia. Just think, and we constantly extend a hand to them and offer dialogue. I think this is a huge difference between us," Vučić said.
Vučić said that the opposition representatives in Strasbourg had demanded the introduction of sanctions against their country and their people, and stressed that this showed a great lack of moral authority.
He stressed that when sanctions are sought against those in power, it also means against their own country and their own people.
Vučić said that for Serbia, preserving peace is crucial and that is why it is investing in the army to deter everyone from attacks. 10,000 soldiers will take part in the upcoming military parade on September 20 in Belgrade, and that citizens will see an army they have never imagined.
"For us, preserving peace is crucial. And we are investing in the army, no matter how paradoxical and contradictory it may sound, to preserve peace, to deter everyone from attacks on Serbia. So that those who make unprincipled military alliances against Serbia understand that they have no business there. Let's just preserve peace, because we are moving forward in peace. Let's preserve stability, peace, security, think about the future of our children and build our country," Vučić told TV "Prva". He pointed out that the army has made serious progress and that a lot of money has been invested, and that citizens will see at the upcoming military parade in Belgrade an army that, as he says, they are almost certain they have never imagined.
Vučić stated that Serbia will face major problems in the coming period regarding Kosovo and Metohija and concerns about military alliances in the region, as well as the general persecution directed against Serbia. "As for the bigger problems, we will face much bigger problems, and that is the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and the military alliances that are being created in the region. So, after the Tirana-Pristina-Zagreb military alliance, an additional Zagreb-Ljubljana military alliance was created. It is quite certain that this was not created because of militarily neutral Austria, but because of, of course, Serbia. They are unequivocally expecting Bulgaria to join, the Croatian Minister of Defense has repeated this several times", said Vučić.
Vučić added that every question from Serbia, to anyone in Europe, why this is being done, does not get an answer.
"We cannot get an answer. Simply put, this is very normal, even though Kosovo is not a state and not only is it not a state for us, but it is not a state for four NATO countries, nor for five European Union (EU) countries, no one is really interested in talking about it," he said.
The President of Serbia stated that today they received the first results of the economic measures for citizens and that he was satisfied with them, but that one retail chain did not act correctly and that measures would be taken against it, and announced that he would most likely present a draft of a new law on September 18 or 19, which the citizens would be delighted with.