PM talks about helicopter crash, EU, tycoons

PM talks about helicopter crash, EU, tycoons

He also stated that the aircraft had enough fuel for another hour, and that it was "absolutely functioning properly when it took off." Vucic then revealed the pilot's last communication.

"First he said, 'I see the runway," and another instant he says, 'I have a problem, I must climb.' By the end of the investigation it will be determined what caused the crash. Whether it was a malfunction or something else in the air, we will learn from the complete report tomorrow, or in a few days," Vucic told the state broadcaster RTS late on Tuesday.

The prime minister stressed that "according to what can be seen there was no violation of procedure, and had that occurred, appropriate action would have been taken."

The prime minister, speaking of this tragedy, asked the critics "whether anyone has to be guilty at all."

"We are not able to mourn with dignity, to say goodbye with dignity to those better than us. I knew these people, the pilots, personally and those were all people who indebted this country," said he.

Vucic then once again reiterated that while "nobody asked for advice from his personally whether to go and fetch the sick child," had they done so, he would have approved.

According to him, if the child was not transported, "the critics would have said that was because of the religion of the parents."

Vucic observed that there was "talk" that ministers Gasic and Loncar were at the airport in Belgrade waiting to welcome the helicopter as a chance for self-promotion.

"Gasic was in Krusevac, no one wanted to have their picture taken. The helicopter was supposed to land at the VMA, and when Minister Loncar heard that it didn't and would head for the airport, he went there to see how the child was feeling," said Vucic.

The prime minister added he was "not afraid of taking the responsibility" and that he found those who thought they could "continue to loot and steal out of personal hatred" to be "funny."

"Beside the hatred I see nothing else, so don't pretend Gasic and Loncar bother you, I am your topic, and the bringing down of the government in Serbia. I will say that I am guilty," said the prime minister.

During the interview, Vucic touched on a range of other issues, including the EU, Kosovo, Russia, and "tycoons."

"The European future of Serbia is determined by how successful we will be in terms of negotiations with Pristina in Brussels, and these are the hardest possible talks," according to him.

Vucic said that his government was "doing everything it can to make progress on the European path of Serbia and open negotiating chapters with the EU, but there is no lie - the most important in this respect is the dialogue with the Albanians in Kosovo."

"If we finished this in the way that someone would like us to, nobody would ever talk to us about the media or other issues, but since it did not end the way some wanted, then other topics are brought up," said Vucic.

The prime minister added that Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic will have the support of the Serb Progressive Party (SNS) if he decided to run in the next presidential election.

He reiterated that Serbia was "on the European path and that it was "the strategic orientation," but that he "cannot accept that to have, for example, everything on (Lake) Gazivode delivered to the Albanians."

"We all know that 24 percent of Gazivode is in central Serbia, and we're supposed to give them all the water, while Serbs from Kosovo have no say. I will not, and I won't give that," said Vucic.

Asked whether Serbs should return to Kosovo's institutions, Vucic said "it would not be a problem if the Albanians met the conditions from the coalition agreement."

He reiterated that the government of Serbia "in this composition" will not impose sanctions on Russia.

The prime minister also observed that "some criticism of the government comes precisely from the government."

"Every evening I get a report for each of the areas and projects worked on, I learn about what has been done and how much progress has been made," Vucic said, adding that the criticism of former British PM Tony Blair's "delivery units" system of work "came from the cabinet."

He specified that the criticism "comes from those who are afraid of the checking of their results."

"I do not want to hear any more empty stories," the prime minister noted and explained this was the reason he "asks for daily reports."

The prime minister reiterated that he would "not allow tycoons to run Serbia" and that he could prove that some tycoon lobbies want a change of government.

Asked whether he could also prove that Delta Holding President Miroslav Miskovic was "behind some protests and the financing of political parties," and when the public could expect to hear it, Vucic said that he "abstrusely has the evidence - but doesn't have to ever present it."

"I do not have to ever present it, I am waiting for Mr. Miskovic to say is not true and to be invited by the competent state authorities, I will submit all the evidence to them," said Vucic.

Vucic added he was convinced that the tycoons cannot win, because, as he put it, "you cannot defeat the people."

Asked about the possibility of the return to Serbia of businessman Bogoljub Karic, Vucic said that "Serbia respects the law, and the law says that he cannot return to the country."