PM "understands what president understood"

PM "understands what president understood"

"Each of us spoke with Hahn separately... I understand what Nikolic could have understood, I see it from another angle, although I do not hesitate to tell people the truth. Whether somebody wants Serbia to recognize (Kosovo) is one question, and whether anyone is demanding it is completely different. I have not received an official request," Vucic said.

He stressed that he "read that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz said that full normalization of relations with Kosovo will be needed before Serbia joins the EU, which would be confirmed in a legally binding document."

"My friend Sebastian Kurz would never have said that," Vucic underlined in an interview for B92 from Rome late on Wednesday.

He added that the government of Serbia "has support from all sides for the reform measures it has undertaken," and commented on the increasing number of strikes:

"The question is whether the government will resist the demands... I think that, for the first time ever, we have made a serious plan and a program. That plan and the program, on which I had worked round the clock for several months, have been approved by the International Monetary Fund and also supported by the World Bank, the EU, and even Vladimir Putin, who admires the courage (needed) for the measures we have undertaken."

"I had very important talks with Italian political and business leaders, and I was informed that the IMF will February 23 will hold a board when the arrangement with Serbia will be discussed. I think we'll get that deal," said Vucic.

He said that the government "undertook to care about the money from the budget, because it is the citizens' money."

"Unlike others, we have said what the problems are. If someone does not want to deal with them, we can go out in the streets, there will be no government and no reforms, but I have to say that even during the time of Tito Serbia did not enjoy this much attention and respect, because people respect those who courageously carry out reforms, rather than sitting idle in armchairs and gossiping about someone," said Vucic.

The prime minister then stated that "people need to understand that the reforms are implemented for the future."

"We're not doing this because we hate someone... We see that unemployment rate is falling, and if someone does not see sufficient guarantees in Aleksandar Vucic, they have them in all the international factors. I will be very decisive, will not back away and compromise. Will the pressure be stronger? It would not be the first time that we go towards the past instead of shooting at an empty net from 11 meters," said he.

Vucic also expressed his confidence in Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic and that he "will be able to resolve disagreements with lawyers."

"I pointed out to some steps... The question is whether one thinks that the state has a pot from which money is withdrawn. In the past there have been many complaints, about the situation during the floods, although I was saying that we have a plan. The day after tomorrow we will hand over houses in Obrenovac and there is nothing negative to be found, no money was stolen, and all that is done is the result of a serious plan and program and it can be seen. As for the (striking) lawyers, it is not a problem to sit down with them, but I don't have the fear that they will go to the streets. I'll talk with the Minister Selakovic who is in daily contact with them," he concluded.