Vucic on MEP Letter: Easy for Many to Take Their Anger out on Serbia

Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on March 14 that it was the "always the same self-appointed haters" who were behind a recent call by a group of European Parliament members to freeze Serbia's European Union accession talks over its stance on Russia, because, according to him, their dream is for Serbia never to advance in any way.

Answering reporters' questions in Vranje, where he attended the opening of a plant of the Turkish company Teklas, Vucic said "many find it easiest" to take their anger out on Serbia, which is why Serbia's position is "more delicate."

Earlier, nine MEPs from the Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament asked the European Commission to call on Serbia to join the EU's stance on Russia in light of its aggression against Ukraine, and to temporarily freeze Serbia's accession talks and cut off financial support if Serbia ignores the invitation.

Commenting on the recent crash of a drone flying from Ukraine into a field in Zagreb, Vucic reiterated his belief that Serbia's Air Force and anti-aircraft defense would have shot the aircraft down. "Some don't have the wherewithal, but we have the best air-to-air missiles. We have air policing of our skies every day and every night. Anything that could in any way threaten our citizens must not pass through. Croatia has outstanding land forces. Their wheeled vehicle fleet is much better than ours, but at the moment their [Air Force] and [anti-aircraft defense] are weaker. That's why they bought the 12 Rafale airplanes," the Serbian president said.