Prime minister says he has "nothing to hide"

BELGRADE Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday that his meetings with Rodoljub Radulovic had "absolutely nothing to do with crime". Radulovic is suspected of being a member of the drug clan led by fugitive Darko Saric. Prime minister says he has "nothing to hide" Speaking to reporters after a ceremony at the Police Academy, Dacic emphasized that the meetings, that took place in 2008 and 2009, "neither had, nor have, anything to do with crime". The prime minister, who previously asserted that he was unaware of Radulovic's criminal background at the time the meetings took place, today provided no further details. But Dacic stated that he "has nothing to hide", and reasserted that he had committed "no criminal activity", noting at the same time that state organs should do their job. "I am learning some big lessons from this that I must be careful who I'm meeting with, and that I must have good services, that will protect the institution of interior minister," said Dacic, who held that office in the previous government and continues to do so in parallel with his premiership now. When his encounters with Radulovic recently came to light, he described them as "attacks targeting the government". On Tuesday, a Belgrade newspaper ran a story about a letter Radulovic reportedly had sent, in which he denied he was a member of the Saric gang. Dacic addresses the Police Academy ceremony on Tuesday in Belgrade (Tanjug) Vucic explains "no crime committed" comment First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday that his recent statement that he "does not believe Prime Minister Ivica Dacic committed a crime by meeting with Rodoljub Radulovic", did not mean he was declaring the prime minister guilty or not guilty. "I said I did not believe Dacic committed a crime, but what I believe does not mean anything. Competent state bodies will have their say about everything," said Vucic. Asked whether he is prejudicing the outcome of the investigation, Vucic said: "Absolutely not, not for a second." Asked whether he received Radulovic's letter, which has made its way to the media, he said: "I did not get it, it seems he does not have my address." He added it would be "scandalous" for him to comment on the letter in any way. "Serbia would be horrified if I commented on the letter in any way. This is someone who has an arrest warrant out for him until 2016, end of story," Vucic said. Tanjug

Prime minister says he has "nothing to hide"

Speaking to reporters after a ceremony at the Police Academy, Dačić emphasized that the meetings, that took place in 2008 and 2009, "neither had, nor have, anything to do with crime".

The prime minister, who previously asserted that he was unaware of Radulović's criminal background at the time the meetings took place, today provided no further details.

But Dačić stated that he "has nothing to hide", and reasserted that he had committed "no criminal activity", noting at the same time that state organs should do their job.

"I am learning some big lessons from this that I must be careful who I'm meeting with, and that I must have good services, that will protect the institution of interior minister," said Dačić, who held that office in the previous government and continues to do so in parallel with his premiership now.

When his encounters with Radulović recently came to light, he described them as "attacks targeting the government".

On Tuesday, a Belgrade newspaper ran a story about a letter Radulović reportedly had sent, in which he denied he was a member of the Šarić gang.

Vučić explains "no crime committed" comment

First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said on Tuesday that his recent statement that he "does not believe Prime Minister Ivica Dačić committed a crime by meeting with Rodoljub Radulović", did not mean he was declaring the prime minister guilty or not guilty.

"I said I did not believe Dačić committed a crime, but what I believe does not mean anything. Competent state bodies will have their say about everything," said Vučić.

Asked whether he is prejudicing the outcome of the investigation, Vučić said: "Absolutely not, not for a second."

Asked whether he received Radulović's letter, which has made its way to the media, he said:

"I did not get it, it seems he does not have my address."

He added it would be "scandalous" for him to comment on the letter in any way.

"Serbia would be horrified if I commented on the letter in any way. This is someone who has an arrest warrant out for him until 2016, end of story," Vučić said.