Region's stability is endangered, says Serbian PM

Region's stability is endangered, says Serbian PM

Speaking after the meeting, Vucic said it was the vital interest of the Serb people to have peace and stability and that these are "the essence of future progress."

He said that Serbia's policy would be one of restraint - "keeping silent, not responding, not gossiping, with which Minister Dacic was not completely in agreement."

Vucic added that he would be "scared" if he should have to deal "with some other things, that are not work and economic progress."

"One of the most difficult weeks is behind us. As the head of government I am prepared to receive political blows and remain silent to most serious insults," said Vucic.

Opening the meeting earlier in the day, Vucic thanked the foreign diplomats for accepting his invitation and stressed that "Serbia thinks that regional stability has been endangered for the first time in a more serious manner."

Vucic also said it was his government's appraisal that due to this situation "political and economic prosperity in the region is not 100 percent certain in the coming period." According to him, meetings like the one today are usually called on the occasion of some positive development. However, "that is unfortunately not the case this time, considering the number of incidents in the region over the past year," he stressed.

The prime minister particularly underlined that "despite this, we have not gathered in this composition to attack anyone but to express clearly Serbia's position on the situation in the region."

The gathering then continued behind closed doors. Vucic was to later address reporters to inform the public of the meeting's contents.

Representatives of 64 embassies located in Belgrade are present at the meeting today - including Russia, Germany, the U.S., China, France, and Britain - as well as those from the European Investment Bank, the International Organization for Migrations, the European Center for Peace and Development, the OSCE, the EU, the Holy See, and the United Nations and its UNICEF agency.

According to announcements, representatives of the embassies of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Montenegro are also taking part - but not of Croatia.

The meeting is attended by Ivica Dacic, Vucic's first deputy, who also serves as the country's foreign minister, and by Jadranka Jankovic, minister without portfolio in charge of EU integration.

Tensions have been heightened considerably in the region lately, above all in the Croatia-Bosnia-Serbia triangle. Political analysts that Tanjug spoke to said Serbia was "undoubtedly the target of policies that do not benefit good neighborly relations or the preservation of peace and stability in the region."