U.S. ambassador says Vučić "won't become dictator"

BELGRADE The fact that DS leader Dragan Djilas can attack First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic in the media is not a sign not of dictatorship, "but just the opposite." This is according to U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade Michael Kirby, who told the daily Blic in an interview that this was "a sign of freedom of the press and of democracy." U.S. ambassador says Vucic "won't become dictator" Asked whether the opposition leader's warning that Vucic was "installing a dictatorship in Serbia" gives cause for concern, Kirby replies that different parties have different policies and different goals, that some party leaders are stronger than others, but that one should not be overly concerned about a dictatorship or "about Vucic becoming a dictator." Kirby says that he is not concerned for democracy in Serbia because, young as it is, a lot has been done to change the old system. He further says that he is highly optimistic about the government's future work and believes that it could be successful in the economic field, because Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Vucic have formed a stronger team in that sphere by bringing in a new man with good ideas for finance minister and new people also for ministers of the economy and agriculture. Kirby goes on to say that both Dacic and Vucic have told him that they expect to go on working together in government and that it seems that they have a good working relationship. He adds that it is clear that it depends on Dacic and Vucic how long the government will stay in office, but that he himself "can see no particular reason why the government should not last if it is efficient." Asked about his stance regarding request by ambassadors of fifteen countries that the Pride Parade be held in Belgrade, the U.S. diplomat said: "Your Constitution stipulates that people have rights to free expression of stance and association. I strongly support that the LGBT population has those same rights. I support holding of the Pride and I have sent a letter of support to the organizers. I told members of the government clearly that making it possible for the Pride Parade to be held safely is a matter of respect of human rights." (Beta, file) Blic VIP

U.S. ambassador says Vučić "won't become dictator"

Asked whether the opposition leader's warning that Vučić was "installing a dictatorship in Serbia" gives cause for concern, Kirby replies that different parties have different policies and different goals, that some party leaders are stronger than others, but that one should not be overly concerned about a dictatorship or "about Vučić becoming a dictator."

Kirby says that he is not concerned for democracy in Serbia because, young as it is, a lot has been done to change the old system. He further says that he is highly optimistic about the government's future work and believes that it could be successful in the economic field, because Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and Vučić have formed a stronger team in that sphere by bringing in a new man with good ideas for finance minister and new people also for ministers of the economy and agriculture.

Kirby goes on to say that both Dačić and Vučić have told him that they expect to go on working together in government and that it seems that they have a good working relationship.

He adds that it is clear that it depends on Dačić and Vučić how long the government will stay in office, but that he himself "can see no particular reason why the government should not last if it is efficient."

Asked about his stance regarding request by ambassadors of fifteen countries that the Pride Parade be held in Belgrade, the U.S. diplomat said:

"Your Constitution stipulates that people have rights to free expression of stance and association. I strongly support that the LGBT population has those same rights. I support holding of the Pride and I have sent a letter of support to the organizers. I told members of the government clearly that making it possible for the Pride Parade to be held safely is a matter of respect of human rights."