#Aleksandar Vucic

Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Serbia

08 Oct 2021 9 4

Max Brändle

Inserted 2 years ago

“Germany, as one of the strongest countries of the EU, will continue to be an actor in the process of the Western Balkans' accession to the Union and that it will contribute to the enlargement. This is particularly true for Serbia. Regardless of the relationship of trust between Angela Merkel and Aleksandar Vučić, it is in Germany's interest to be supported and surrounded by friends in the EU member states. Germany has an interest for Serbia to make progress on this path through the opening of funds, but it is clear that criteria such as democracy and the rule of law will be met.”

Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Serbia

08 Oct 2021 9 4

Zeljko Komsic

Inserted 2 years ago

“I can say that (Slobodan) Milošević and (Franjo) Tuđman agreed 90% on BiH and we know how it ended. What is the 10% they do not agree on? It seems that BiH, even though we have thought that that time has passed, has for the third or fourth decade been the main dish on Zagreb and Belgrade's menu. That is certainly not something that is good for us in Bosnia and Herzegovina but it is not good for Zagreb or Belgrade either.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chairman

07 Oct 2021 7 6

Daniel Serwer

Inserted 2 years ago

“Serbia would have to abandon any EU ambitions if it acted militarily against Bosnia or Kosovo. But Vucic [Aleksandar Vucic] appears to have already given up on EU accession. The situation is dangerous. NATO needs to make clear that it will not tolerate Serbian mobilisation of forces against its neighbours, as it did last week against Kosovo, which has no army.”

Aljazeera

Professor who served as the US special envoy and coordinator for the Federation entity

06 Oct 2021 8 7

Reuf Bajrovic

Inserted 2 years ago

“Vucic [Aleksandar Vucic] is preparing to use military force in Kosovo and Bosnia when international circumstances change in his favour - such as when US troops withdraw from KFOR (the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo) or when Russia - Serbia's ally - decides to directly intervene in the region. Russia-trained mercenaries in Bosnia and Montenegro are an integral part of the Serbian military strategy for the region. It is a carbon copy of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's pre-invasion actions in Georgia and Ukraine. Vucic government officials have openly stated that Serbia will use military force in its neighbourhood, including a threat Vucic issued against NATO troops in Kosovo last week.”

Aljazeera

Co-chair of the US-Europe Alliance organisation

06 Oct 2021 13 6

Jens Stoltenberg

Inserted 2 years ago

“I spoke to Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia & Albin Kurti of Kosovo about the need to de-escalate in the north of Kosovo. It's vital both Belgrade & Pristina show restraint & return to dialogue. NATO KFOR's mandate remains to ensure a safe & secure environment & freedom of movement for all.”

Twitter

Secretary General of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

26 Sep 2021 5 3

Goran Rakic

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is a direct threat to people who are worrying about how they will provide bread for their children. We have also informed the [European Union's] special envoy [for Kosovo], Miroslav Lajcak, and asked for EU help. And I call on President Vucic [Aleksandar Vucic]: 'Vucic, react'.”

Leader of the Belgrade-backed Kosvo Serb political party Srpska Lista

20 Sep 2021 6 3

Srdan Cvijić

Inserted 2 years ago

“Vulin's statements look like a not-so-washed-up version of the policy of Greater Serbia on the borders of Karlovac – Karlobag – Virovitica, which was propagated in the 1990s by Vojislav Šešelj, political father of the current President of Serbia. We all know what misfortune this politics brought to peoples of Yugoslavia, including the Serbs, so it is normal that such statements by the Minister of the Interior cause unrest among Serbia's neighbours in the region, but also strengthen nationalists in their ranks. Vulin fits perfectly into the role of a political chameleon, who went from the conceited Che Guevara, a member of the Yugoslav United Left led by the wife of dictator Slobodan Milošević, to his current version of a Serbia nationalist particularly fascinated by uniforms. The phrase 'Serbian World' is used as a counter-argument by some in the opposition, who accuse SNS [Serbian Progressive Party] and Serbian President Vučić of being ready for a compromise, according to which Serbia will, on one way or another, accept Kosovo's independence.”

Senior Analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels

20 Jul 2021 11 3

Bisera Turkovic

Inserted 2 years ago

“President Aleksandar Vucic needs to strongly rebuke his Minister Vulin, for his recent statements. Failure to do so confirms Serbia support of the policy of destruction of the Dayton Peace Accords, an ominous threat to Bosnia and Herzegovina who suffered from aggression and genocide 26 years ago!”

Twitter

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign minister

19 Jul 2021 6 4

Dragisa Mijacic

Inserted 2 years ago

“For years, President Vučić has managed to send the message that it is necessary to work on reaching an agreement, but also to calm those radical elements in society who are against reaching any agreement with the Kosovo Albanians. His political and social engineering is often reflected in the fact that members of his party and coalition partners often speak contrary to what he advocates in public presentations, which further confuses the public and calms the opponents of the agreement. In the coming period, we will probably witness the continued use of this model of communication. They (the attitudes) are often contrary to what the President is saying. However, the latest public opinion polls show that more and more citizens believe that a solution needs to be found to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo.”

Chair of the Working group for Chapter 35 of the National Convention on the EU

26 Jun 2021 4 4

Sefik Džaferović

Inserted 3 years ago

“In a situation when global multilateral mechanisms related to the procurement of vaccines have failed, President Vucic sent an offer, we accepted it and I thank him once again.”

Bosniak Muslim member of Bosnia’s tripartite presidency

02 Mar 2021 2 5

Mladen Aleksic

Inserted 3 years ago

“Whoever is elected, the Church will continue to repeat its clear, unequivocal position on the issue of Kosovo. It was always important for the state to have the support of the Serbian Orthodox Church for its policy, whether domestic or internationa. The pressure is not bigger now but Vucic's [Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic] constant presence in the media makes his role appear most important.”

Theologian and religious teacher

17 Feb 2021 4 4

Srdan Cvijić

Inserted 3 years ago

“Yes, Germany’s EU Presidency was a failure. However, I would not say that it is Germany’s fault, nor of all the countries in the Western Balkans. Some, such as North Macedonia, deserve to open the first chapters in the EU accession negotiations, but have been denied that right and cannot be said to be at fault. Others, such as Vučić’s Serbia, not only did almost nothing, but the rule of law and democracy, during 2020, further declined, and additional chapters with them were not opened.”

Senior Analyst at the Open Society European Policy Institute in Brussels

22 Jan 2021 7 8

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 3 years ago

“We have good news. We will receive 8,000 Pfizer vaccines from Serbia. Today, President Vucic confirmed to me that Serbia will help us with vaccines from their supply, which we will pay at the purchase price. This is an act of solidarity by our neighbour and strengthens our friendship. Negotiations are underway on the technical procedures for the vaccination, and health professionals, people with chronic diseases, adults and other at risk groups will be vaccinated with the first batch.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

18 Jan 2021 6 4

Florian Bieber

Inserted 3 years ago

“There are some indications that Vucic is putting more space between himself and Russia. I would not think this to be a long-term move but more a tactical shift. [Vucic] needed it [distance himself from Russia] after the flawed elections and democratic backsliding. A more pro-Western 'look' helps him get support that can cover up these deficiencies.”

Rferl

Professor at the University of Graz and member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG)

10 Nov 2020 2 3

Miroslav Lajčák

Inserted 3 years ago

“I see the process of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia as the main factor of confidence in the region and an important element in resolving regional problems. That is why we want to achieve three goals at the same time; the first is to establish normalization of relations between the two sides; the second is to incorporate European values and rules and to bring the region much closer to the European future; the third is to contribute to regional stability. It is not an easy process, the solution will be a painful compromise, but I have no doubt that it is possible and worth it. I would like to thank my interlocutors, Vučić and Hoti, for their commitment to the dialogue and for their persistence in keep going, despite facing sometimes strong criticism at home. You are on the right side of history, and history will be able to recognize that.”

European Union's special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks

22 Oct 2020 5 2

Ana Brnabic

Inserted 3 years ago

“We achieved great things in Washington. I am proud of our country and the delegation led by President Aleksandar Vučić, how they represented Serbia in Washington and Brussels, how they negotiated the agreement and what Serbia got out of it. It’s a message to investors regarding how safe we are, how much investment there will be, what it means for the people and the economy.”

Prime Minister of Serbia

08 Sep 2020 3 4

Vedran Džihić

Inserted 3 years ago

“The essence is that in the heart of the regime of Aleksandar Vučić, not only is there no political will, but there is not a shred of enthusiasm for anything that the Treaty on the European Union defines in Article Two as basic democratic and liberal values of the EU. What motivates the regime to maintain the facade of Europeanization is nothing but the mere fact that the EU members and the Union itself, and not Russia and China, are the largest trading partners, largest investors and largest donors of aid to Serbia. This has been shown during the COVID-19 pandemic. And the regime knows that without all these means, many of which are disappearing, similar to, say, in Hungary, in the pockets of structures and people close to the regime, it cannot be sustained.”

Senior Researcher with the Austrian Institute for International Affairs and a lecturer at the University of Vienna

28 Aug 2020 4 4

Tanja Fajon

Inserted 3 years ago

“The use of force is unacceptable. Angry people accuse President Vucic of deliberately concealing the real health picture [with COVID-19] until the recent elections. Safety and health of people are in the first place. But not with repression.”