Godfrey: Disappointed Over PM's Accusing U.S. of Financing Ecological Protests

Anthony Godfrey (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/MO)

The outgoing U.S. ambassador to Serbia, Anthony Godfrey, has stated that he was disappointed with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic's accusations of the U.S., about it having financed the environmental protests in Serbia because, as he said, millions of dollars had been paid towards Serbia's reaching the goals it has set for itself – to advance towards the European Union more quickly. 

"That is why I was very disappointed when I heard those accusations. I was particularly disappointed with the fact that they were spoken by Prime Minister Brnabic, who was a great partner in several projects," Godfrey said in the interview to the latest issue of the Nedeljnik weekly, adding that such statements were beginning to resemble the start of a political campaign. 

Godfrey has expressed concern over ethnic nationalism and the glorification of war criminals. "I have been talking about that with officials and I would like to see what they talk about being implemented better. It is fine to commit to something and it is nice to talk, but I would much prefer to see that carried out in practice," the ambassador has stated. 

He also expressed concern over the situation in the Serbian media due to polarization, but also because, in his words, the media are being used to gain unfair advantage, to attack political opponents and to spread false information or misinformation.