Opposition Party: Vucic Lied He Had Long, Meaningful Talk with Von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen, Belgrade, Oct. 25 2024 (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Nebojsa Novakovic, the deputy president of the Democratic Party, said on July 2 that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had lied that he had "a long and meaningful talk" with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

In a written statement, Novakovic said Vucic was attempting to portray himself as a relevant political player on the international scene, but that the reality was different. "He is increasingly isolated, suspicious and politically undesirable. Europe does not trust him. And that is the message Serbia must hear. The European journey of Serbia is not piloted in hallway chats, from stools and made-up meetings, by offering up state resources for a pittance, backbiting your own citizens and inventing 'color revolutions.' It is time for truth, decency and political integrity," the Democratic Party quoted Novakovic as saying.

The EC has denied claims by the Serbian president that he had a half-hour talk with the head of the executive branch of the European Union in Seville, stating that it had been just a brief, spontaneous exchange. EC spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker told reporters that Von der Leyen had not had an official bilateral meeting with Vucic.