Ambassador Godfrey: Important that All Parties Run in June 21 Elections

Anthony Godfrey (Beta/Milos Miskov)

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey on May 19 said that all parties should run in the June 21 elections, because it was very important to have all different views and stands expressed and presented in the next makeup of the Serbian parliament.  

“Serbia’s goal is a membership in the EU, and Washington fully backs Belgrade to continue making progress to become a prosperous country with developed ideals of democracy such as democratic institutions, and to have peace in the country and develop trade with the neighbors. The best way to develop democracy in Serbia is to have all run in the June 21 elections,” Ambassador Godfrey told TV Prva.

He declined to comment on the hunger strike staged by Serbian Movement Dveri leader Bosko Obradovic, but said he had not received a letter which Obradovic claimed to have sent to 300 addresses in Europe, the U.S. and Russia.

Asked to comment on the media situation in Serbia, including Obradovic’s remark that media outlets had been closed for the opposition as well as a Freedom House report, Godfrey said “there are things that Serbia needs to address,” adding that President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic had agreed with this view.