Vucic on Bundestag Member Juratovic: Biggest Lobbyist for Independent Kosovo, Hates Serbia 

Aleksandar Vucic, Nis, July 23 2024 (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

On July 23, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic rejected remarks by Josip Juratovic, a member of German Bundestag, about the planned lithium mining in Serbia, accusing him of “being the biggest lobbyist for an independent Kosovo and the Resolution on Srebrenica” as well as of “hating Serbia and the Serbian people.”

Vucic said that “any auto mechanic in Serbia is smarter than Juratovic.” “He does not speak against me, but rather against Serbia. He provided the main support to the Resolution on Srebrenica, he was the biggest lobbyist for an independent Kosovo and sanctions against Serbia, and now he is one of the few in Germany who are against the lithium project,” Vucic said. 

On July 23, Juratovic, an auto mechanic and politician born in Croatia, said that Germany and the EU could not guarantee the required standards for lithium mining in Serbia and that the main issue was whether Serbian institutions were strong enough to ensure implementation of those standards.

Speaking to reporters in Nis ahead of the opening of a terminal at the local airport, Vucic said Serbia had “very good relations with Russia” and would continue to maintain them despite all who would wish differently. 

“Just as we will continue to pursue our EU path despite those who would like otherwise. Those are not pro-Russians, but fake pro-Europe individuals who cannot stand Serbia's economic and political progress,” Vucic said.