PM meets with U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair

PM meets with U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair

After his meeting with the chairman the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Vucic said that major protests were expected in Pristina on February 17, but voiced the hope that complete stability would be maintained, and the Brussels deals implemented.

“I do not rejoice at the problems facing Pristina, as this is, among other things, one of the reasons why we still do not have the Community of Serb Municipalities and why Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are not satisfied,” Vucic said.

Vucic "made it clear that Belgrade would meet its obligations," Tanjug reported.

During the news conference, Vucic also made a point of stressing that he on Friday sent a letter, rather than a note of protest to the Hague Tribunal, adding that the content of the letter was confidential.

Speaking about the region, the prime minister said its stability will be "hard to maintain" in the coming period, "but stressed it is sorely need by all Balkan states."

"It will not be easy this year to go through the anniversary of the establishment of the NDH (WW2 fascist entity "Independent State of Croatia") and Jasenovac (NDH death camp), it will not be easy to preserve stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina and other places, but we must do it because it is a condition for our economic progress," Vucic said, adding that "Serbia for that reason often remains silent to various provocations, because that is better for Serbia and the region."

Vucic said that United States' support to Serbia's European path was very important, "just like its support to peace and stability in the region," the Serbian government's website said.

Vucic revealed he asked Senator Corker to help attract more U.S. investors to Serbia, as well as his support for improving the business environment in our country.

He added that Corker "promised to convey this message to American businesspeople and that he will do everything for them to come to do business in our country."

The prime minister "stressed that stability is more certain and GDP growth is higher where there where big American companies operate, because Japanese, Korean and other companies come after American companies."

Vucic reiterated that economic reforms are continuing, and expressed concern about the situation in the region and the current migrant crisis, i.e., a threat to the stability that may endanger the economy.

Corker said that he will support the vision of the prime minister for Serbia to be a successful country.

He pointed out that he appreciates the desire of citizens to raise a family and to have a well-paid job in their homeland.

The U.S. senator said that Serbia can count on the friendship of the United States, and expressed the hope that this region will be stable.

Speaking about the migrant crisis, he said he was aware of the refugee issues and the tremendous burden placed on Serbia, expressing appreciation for the way Serbia had handled the influx of people.

Corker said that the migrant crisis would end when the situation in Syria got stabilized.

The best way for this to stop is for Syria to have a ceasefire and for people to not be barrel-bombed and to be able to live in their own homes and not be fearful of those creating terror, said Corker.

Corker said the U.S. had high hopes for the the situation, and despite a lot of skepticism being there, he was happy that progress was being made.

The two officials also spoke about bilateral relations, regional stability and Serbia's European path.

Vucic said that the key condition is economic prosperity of the entire region, and added that Serbia has no fear of economic reforms, noting that "the hardest part has been done, where citizens have shown themselves to be heroes."

The strategic goal of Serbia is membership in the EU, but we want to keep good relations with Russia and China as well, Vucic said, and thanked the senator "for his visit and advice."