"Serbia partner in migrant crisis, won't blame Merkel"

"Serbia partner in migrant crisis, won't blame Merkel"

"Whatever you want us to do concerning the migrant crisis, tell us about it and we will do it, as long as it is a common European policy. Do not expect something to happen somewhere if no one is ready to be bold and say what they have to say directly, and go blaming (German Chancellor) Angela Merkel instead," the prime minister said.

Vucic said he would not take part in criticizing Merkel, pointing out that erecting fences was legally unfounded and non-European behavior.

Vucic also stated that while at the World Economic Forum he will have "so much to talk about Serbia with world officials and experts."

The prime minister said he will have many bilateral meetings with the entire global economic elite, "ranging from representatives of Microsoft, Goldman Sachs to President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti."

“I believe I will meet with at least 40 heads of state and government, and that we will have an opportunity to learn something and have a fresh take on the issues. We have so much to talk about Serbia,” Vucic said.

The prime minister noted that "what he had said at Davos 2015 proved true."

“Figures are even better,” he said.

"Still not in sight"

Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday took part in the "From Migration to Integration" panel at Davos.

Vucic said that "the European migration policy requires changes and that a clear solution is still not in sight," noting that Serbia is just a country on the migrants' route towards Europe, their final destinations being Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries.

"People in Serbia have shown great solidarity, there have been no problems, no tear gas - Serbia is used to refugee columns, they have been passing through, or coming to, Serbia over the past hundred years. I am a son of a Bosnian refugee and today I am the prime minister," Vucic said, noting that new decisions are being made in Europe and that Austria, Germany and Macedonia are slowly closing borders.

A comprehensive, determined EU solution is needed as soon as possible, otherwise there will be great difficulties, Vucic said.

"Economic tiger"

Aleksandar Vucic is confident that Serbia can become an "economic tiger" of southeastern Europe.

Vucic stated, in an article he wrote that posted on the official website of the Forum, that "growth potential in Serbia is large."

"The structural economic reforms that we're undertaking will be the key to unlocking it. If we manage this, as early results suggest we can, Serbia is expected to be the economic tiger of south eastern Europe," the prime minister says.

"Although located on the crossroads between East and West, Serbia is committed to creating a social and economic system based on Western standards, at the same time further improving economic relations with our Eastern partners, both in terms of investments and trade," says Vucic.