Vučić and Patriarch Porfirije address the public after the meeting VIDEO

Vučić and Patriarch Porfirije address the public after the meeting VIDEO

The meeting between the president and the patriarch, which started at 12:00, is being held a day after the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Porfirije, was banned from entering Kosovo and Metohija on his way to the Patriarchate of Pec before Christmas.

The patriarch stated after the ban that he went to the first and most important seat of his church to be with his people on the eve of Christmas, but that the door of his home was locked for him.

"As a Patriarch, I went to the first and most important seat of my church. As a priest, I went to be with my people on the eve of the most joyous holiday. As a citizen, I went to my house, to my home," the patriarch said yesterday on his Instagram account. He added that the doors of his home are locked for him, and that he prays to God to unlock the hearts of those who closed them and that the love of Christmas and the birth of the Savior touch the minds and consciences of all people. President Vučić, regarding the ban on the entry of Patriarch Porfirije to Kosovo, emphasized that this has never happened in history.

"And they don't really care. Meaningless statements were issued, unimportant... But they will continue to talk only about the Serbian barricades, which are only a sign of the dissatisfaction and struggle of the Serbian people to be on their own and nothing more," the president said on his Instagram account buducnostsrbije".

President Vučić addressed the public after the meeting with Patriarch Porfirije. "I introduced the patriarch with the situation from different angles. I think that yesterday's decision to ban him from going to Kosovo and Metohija, which the Pristina authorities carried out and not allowing him to go to our sanctuary, speaks best of those who organized it, and that is only partly the Pristina regime. They announced all day long how harshly they will condemn what Pristina did, when in fact we realized that we Serbs were to blame. It is one of the biggest shames they could afford. They can neither take the patriarch nor the church from the souls of the people who are on Kosovo and Metohija," said Vučić.

"We are holding talks with the representatives of the international community, because we have to represent the interests of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. Those who, together with the NATO countries, hijacked, destroyed, and trampled on the territorial integrity of Serbia are still trying to do so today. They dare to tell you such foolishness and nonsense about territorial integrity. Just so we know that you want to kill Serbs. You kidnap Serbs, and then you say we should beware," says Vučić.

He emphasized that Pristina should give Pantić the opportunity to receive treatment, to see his family, and drew attention to the demands of the Serbs.

"Don't lie to us," continued Vučić.

"We are talking with international representatives and talks are ongoing at the moment. We are doing our best to preserve the peace and to reach some sort of compromise solution. Shame on you all, you liars," he added.

"I will go to every possible place to meet with the representatives of our people. Whether we succeed does not depend on us. Do not have any doubts that this will continue. You see that it is impossible to talk to someone who does not want to talk. What do you want? To kill someone?

What is the second goal? Even if we achieve something, and I'm not sure we will. There will be something new in 15 days. The final goal is the expulsion of Serbs for good, and especially the expulsion of the disobedient Serbian people from Kosovo and Metohija," concluded Vučić and added that he would inform the public about upcoming events.

Patriarch Porfirije: "The situation there is very serious"

"The situation there is very, very serious and tensions have reached a point where they would not lead us to anything that would bring not only peace but some kind of balance. I don't have much to say, especially after yesterday, which is for me a very sad day, to say the least, but that is not so important. The important thing is that it is sad for our brothers and sisters in Kosovo and Metohija, for our nuns and monks, who expected the head of their church to come as part of their regular programs, before all in the Patriarchate of Peć", began the address Patriarch Porfirije.

"It is a certain fact that only we among ourselves, through our efforts, can better understand each other, and for centuries Serbs and Albanians have lived together in the area of Kosovo and Metohija. If there is goodwill, a way to a coexistence can be found within which there is room for everyone. Regardless that I was forbidden to go to Kosovo, I am sure that I will be with them there and together with them pray to God for everything that I mentioned. The Patriarchate of Peć is for our people, the church, what the Vatican is for the Roman Catholic Church," added the Serbian patriarch. He pointed out that the whole world would rise to its feet if, by any chance, a visit to the head of the Roman Catholic Church was banned.

"Is there a head of a religious community who cannot visit his people?" asked the patriarch.

"I appeal to those who I think can certainly influence those who make decisions in Prishtina, including the decision to ban the patriarch, to change that decision," he added.

He emphasized that we must do everything to preserve peace at any cost, and that he addressed the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić with this request.