PM "sees no point" in meeting with Serbs from Bosnia

PM "sees no point" in meeting with Serbs from Bosnia

He added that considering this, "the meeting might as well be skipped."

"I do not break the agreements that we reach. I don't go public with my policy. I cannot stand easy and popular solutions, those that people are thrilled with," Vucic has been quoted as saying ahead of the meeting dedicated to the plans of the Serb Republic (RS) to hold a referendum.

Vucic added that, despite their agreement not to go public with their positions, "some have presented their decisions," and expressed "regret that he had no opportunity to present his opinion."

He said that he and his closest associates last night had "difficult and serious conversations that lasted until 1 a.m." and that he "continued with meetings this morning."

The prime minister stressed that he "does not want to exert pressure - everyone is entitled to make their own decisions within their solutions."

"I regret that we could not talk and that I could not present my ideas," he said.

Vucic went on to observe that "there are always solutions that people are thrilled with," and "pointed out that had he asked people whether to go into the fiscal consolidation measures, he would have been lynched."

"I have always made the most difficult decisions alone with the government," said Vucic, adding, "and today we can be proud of the results - show me more than five countries in Europe that can be compared to us. We succeeded because we did not bring popular solutions."

Vucic also noted that another Bosnian politician - Dragan Covic, who represents ethnic Croats in Bosnia's tripartite presidency - will also be in Belgrade today, and receive proper welcome here, "out of our desire to have best relations with everyone."

According to the Belgrade-based newspaper Blic, Vucic has told his associates that he and RS President Milorad Dodik and Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia- Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic agreed "not go public with their views before they all sit down together and talk."

But, after Dodik's interview for the N1 broadcaster last night, Vucic now "sees no point in holding today's meeting and believes the deal has been broken," said the daily.

According to the same source, "Vucic's position is that Serbia should not pander to the international community - which it considers partially responsible for everything that is happening in the region - and would not exert pressure on the RS."