Vučić discusses his political ambition, Giuliani visit

Deputy leader of the opposition SNS party Aleksandar Vucic told B92 TV in Belgrade on Tuesday that he was "at this time" satisfied to run in the mayoral race. "I know what I can do. The office of the (Belgrade) mayor is no small deal for me. I do not wish to seek something above my capabilities. I don't think I should be a candidate for prime minister, a minister, or president." Vucic discusses his political ambition, Giuliani visit He was also confident that his party would run the capital city better than current Mayor Dragan Djilas and his Democratic Party (DS). "The SNS does not wish to manage Belgrade by taking out loans," said Vucic, and accused the city authorities of increasing its debt during the past three years to double the previous figure. Last week's visit here of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who arrived on the invitation of the Progressives - caused some controversy, with Djilas accusing him of being one of U.S. politicians who supported NATO's war against Serbia in 1999, and criticizing the Progressives as his hosts. But Vucic said he had been ready to, along Giuliani, attend a meeting with Djilas in his role as Belgrade's mayor - "had Djilas requested it". "They (the Democrats) were irked because Giuliani came to us, rather than to them," said Vucic, and added that he was "not exactly clear on what the SNS was criticized for, considering that Giuliani was in Belgrade to talk business": "I don't understand those people who said they wanted investors and Belgrade's progress, who do not mind (visits) from Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, but do mind the arrival of a New York mayor." The 1999 bombing was a horrific crime, he further noted, and added that his stance on the issue "has not changed" - "but Serbia must look to the future." Speaking for B92 Radio later the same day, Vucic said that he would rather see parliamentary elections repeated - in case no party was able to form a government - than join the Democrats in the next cabinet: "Such a coalition will not happen, and we don't need such a coalition. If you ask me what I'd rather see: us without power or us in power in a coalition with them, I would choose the former. That is my personal position, but I don't think it's irrelevant within our party. I would rather go to new elections." Aleksandar Vucic addresses reporters in Belgrade on Tuesday (Tanjug) Agency in for "interesting answers" Also on Tuesday, the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) announced that by the day's end or tomorrow, the Anti-Corruption Agency will receive its answer on how the visit of Rudy Giuliani was financed. Aleksandar Vucic said that the agency "may expect an interesting answer”, accusing this institution of being "the long arm of the Democratic Party". “That is a cry of despair. When you do not know what else to do, then you mistreat someone from the opposition. But, this will end soon. The answer will include an extensive text about all servants of (DS leader) Boris Tadic, and (Belgrade Mayor) Dragan Djilas in this country,” Vucic said at an open-air news conference he called in downtown Belgrade. Despite the negative campaign aimed against it, the SNS "expects to win at all levels and calls on all citizens not to scatter votes over small parties," he underlined. Vucic also announced that party leader and presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolic will hold an election rally in Belgrade's Republic Square on Thursday. B92 Tanjug

Vučić discusses his political ambition, Giuliani visit

He was also confident that his party would run the capital city better than current Mayor Dragan Đilas and his Democratic Party (DS).

"The SNS does not wish to manage Belgrade by taking out loans," said Vučić, and accused the city authorities of increasing its debt during the past three years to double the previous figure.

Last week's visit here of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who arrived on the invitation of the Progressives - caused some controversy, with Đilas accusing him of being one of U.S. politicians who supported NATO's war against Serbia in 1999, and criticizing the Progressives as his hosts.

But Vučić said he had been ready to, along Giuliani, attend a meeting with Đilas in his role as Belgrade's mayor - "had Đilas requested it".

"They (the Democrats) were irked because Giuliani came to us, rather than to them," said Vučić, and added that he was "not exactly clear on what the SNS was criticized for, considering that Giuliani was in Belgrade to talk business":

"I don't understand those people who said they wanted investors and Belgrade's progress, who do not mind (visits) from Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, but do mind the arrival of a New York mayor."

The 1999 bombing was a horrific crime, he further noted, and added that his stance on the issue "has not changed" - "but Serbia must look to the future."

Speaking for B92 Radio later the same day, Vučić said that he would rather see parliamentary elections repeated - in case no party was able to form a government - than join the Democrats in the next cabinet:

"Such a coalition will not happen, and we don't need such a coalition. If you ask me what I'd rather see: us without power or us in power in a coalition with them, I would choose the former. That is my personal position, but I don't think it's irrelevant within our party. I would rather go to new elections."

Agency in for "interesting answers"

Also on Tuesday, the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) announced that by the day's end or tomorrow, the Anti-Corruption Agency will receive its answer on how the visit of Rudy Giuliani was financed.

Aleksandar Vučić said that the agency "may expect an interesting answer”, accusing this institution of being "the long arm of the Democratic Party".

“That is a cry of despair. When you do not know what else to do, then you mistreat someone from the opposition. But, this will end soon. The answer will include an extensive text about all servants of (DS leader) Boris Tadić, and (Belgrade Mayor) Dragan Đilas in this country,” Vučić said at an open-air news conference he called in downtown Belgrade.

Despite the negative campaign aimed against it, the SNS "expects to win at all levels and calls on all citizens not to scatter votes over small parties," he underlined.

Vučić also announced that party leader and presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolić will hold an election rally in Belgrade's Republic Square on Thursday.