Prime minister rules out early elections

Prime minister rules out early elections

Vucic, who is the leader of the ruling SNS, said his party "has no reason to be afraid of elections, because it would certainly gain about 40 percent (of the vote)" - adding that "if people don't want that, then somebody else will rule from the sea, or from Strand, or from Ada."

Vucic also said that Serbia is currently "using all available means to block Kosovo's membership in UNESCO."

"We will do our best to block Kosovo's membership by peaceful, democratic, political means. It would be funny, even tragicomic for (Serb Orthodox monasteries) Decani and Gracanica to become a part of someone else's cultural heritage," said Vucic.

He also pointed out that "Serbia is not as powerless as it used to be."

"I would not overestimate our role, but I would not underestimate it either," said Vucic.

Speaking about the situation in the Serb entity in Bosnia, the RS, Vucic said that he "does not have the selfish interests of Serbia in mind" and is also thinking about the future of the RS, and is "asking Dodik to reconsider the referendum."

"The obligation of Serbia is to preserve regional peace and stability, and I would like to ask Dodik to once again reconsider his decision, it's the only thing I can do," said Vucic and stressed that this is "the most difficult issue for him - more difficult that economic problems the country is facing."

Vucic said the upcoming 20th anniversary of Croatia's Operation Storm will be a very sad day for all Serbs, but that Serbia "is not saying anything against the people of Croatia and the Croatian state."

"We give ourselves the right to grieve for the killed and displaced Serbs. We cannot forbid people from shedding a tear and lighting a candle, it is the achievement of civilization. What others will do, let them do, and I see that parade of theirs is.... I should not speak more," said Vucic.

The prime minister also said that President Tomislav Nikolic's platform for Kosovo and Metohija was "not forgotten" and is, and will be talked about - "but now the finish of the negotiations in Brussels is awaited."

The prime minister said that the Serbian government has formed a working group to prepare a law on origin of property, which will have a public debate.

"The working group will be managed by Minister of Justice Nikola Selakovic, and I will personally oversee its work," said Vucic.