"Govt., not Russian ambassador, should have PM's transcript"

"Govt., not Russian ambassador, should have PM's transcript"

"The transcript is still being talked about, I think this story has been overblown for no reason," said Mihajlovic, who is one of Brnabic's deputies and also serves as minister of construction, transport, and infrastructure, and added:

"I think, that if someone should have obtained that transcript, perhaps it could have been the members of the government."

Mihajlovic then said that "the story about the transcript" should be "left behind" - and that she would "prefer to talk about construction, projects, transport, and similar topics."

Speaking for the daily Blic on Saturday, Brnabic said that she had not been "justifying" herself to Chepurin when she handed over the transcript.

The prime minister said she did this "because it's important to maintain the continuity of the chairperson of the government being open and sincere toward each partner."

"I was not justifying myself. I was open in interviews for Bloomberg, Sputnik, and the BBC. I wished to show that I stand behind each of my words, although some of my statements have been completely taken out of context," Brnabic said.

She also remarked that her meeting with Chepurin had been scheduled "earlier."