Vučić receives 2012 Best European Award

BELGRADE Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic received the 2012 Best European Award presented by NGO First European House on Friday evening. He stated that he was certain that Serbia would advance along the path of progress and be a reliable partner to all its European friends. Vucic receives 2012 Best European Award Upon receiving the award, the deputy PM thanked all those who supported his work having recognized his fighting spirit and passion in the desire to help Serbia take a better road and be a modern state. He underlined that he did not receive the award as an individual, but rather on the behalf of the entire government, which had done its best so that Serbia could make progress in reforms and modernization. “I am certainly not the best European. I am an ordinary Serbian citizen who wanted to do something for his country and his people, and I have received the award only as one of the representatives of the government and the state of Serbia who have done something in the previous eight-nine months and did their best for Serbia to make progress in reforms and modernization so that people today can say that they have more hope than fears,” Vucic underscored. Addressing one of the laureates, who was awarded as foreigner, Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio, he thanked all who had helped Serbia choose the path of modernization and reforms, and called on Varricchio to help Serbia in future as well and be its supporter both in Italy and Europe. The award explanation reads that Vucic has been recognized as the key government official who has taken clear, courageous and concrete steps in reforming the state and its administration, particularly in strengthening of the institutions of the justice system, security, public procurement, improvement of laws, and particularly in the fight against corruption and crime. The Best European Award was also presented posthumously to Verica Barac, former president of the Anti-Corruption Council. Aleksandar Vucic is seen at the award ceremony (Tanjug) Tanjug

Vučić receives 2012 Best European Award

Upon receiving the award, the deputy PM thanked all those who supported his work having recognized his fighting spirit and passion in the desire to help Serbia take a better road and be a modern state.

He underlined that he did not receive the award as an individual, but rather on the behalf of the entire government, which had done its best so that Serbia could make progress in reforms and modernization.

“I am certainly not the best European. I am an ordinary Serbian citizen who wanted to do something for his country and his people, and I have received the award only as one of the representatives of the government and the state of Serbia who have done something in the previous eight-nine months and did their best for Serbia to make progress in reforms and modernization so that people today can say that they have more hope than fears,” Vučić underscored.

Addressing one of the laureates, who was awarded as foreigner, Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio, he thanked all who had helped Serbia choose the path of modernization and reforms, and called on Varricchio to help Serbia in future as well and be its supporter both in Italy and Europe.

The award explanation reads that Vučić has been recognized as the key government official who has taken clear, courageous and concrete steps in reforming the state and its administration, particularly in strengthening of the institutions of the justice system, security, public procurement, improvement of laws, and particularly in the fight against corruption and crime.

The Best European Award was also presented posthumously to Verica Barać, former president of the Anti-Corruption Council.