Serbia's opposition calls on EU to make Vucic talk to its leaders

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The leader of Serbia's opposition People's Party (NS) Vuk Jeremic called on the European Union institutions to use their moral and political influence to oblige President Aleksandar Vucic to start a comprehensive dialogue with the country's opposition under the bloc's auspices to restore media freedom and the establishment of the rule of law, the Beta news agency reported on Thursday.

 „The strategic goal of such talks would be the establishment of detailed and measurable conditions for truly free and fair elections that should be held as soon as possible in line with the European standards,“ Jeremic wrote in an op-ed with the euractive.com website „Dictatorship in Your Neighbourhood.“

He added that „the sooner it happens, Serbia will start overcoming this deepening political crisis and restore democracy and the European path.“

Jeremic said that by now, everyone could see how „painfully obvious is that Vucic’s ‘galloping despotism’ coupled with violent acts, hoaxes, bigotry and lies, fully anathematised values modern Europe is founded on.“

„Vucic’s regime cannot and will not achieve either the regional reconciliation or lead Serbia closer to the EU,“ he added.

Jeremic said that a powerful, effective and public reaction by the European leaders could help Serbia to overcome the crisis.

„Unfortunately, many European officials still tolerate Vucic’s regime. It is said, and not without a reason that their motive is based on two assumptions – a cynical estimate that he (Vucic) is a factor of the regional stability and his secret promise he will legalise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo,“ Jeremic wrote.

However, he added, the result „is devastating in both areas: South-Eastern Europe’s leading stabilocracy produces the highest level of mistrust between Belgrade and the regional capitals since the wars had stopped 20 years ago.“

Jeremic said that concerning Kosovo’s future status, „Vucic managed to play the international community with secret deals with his partner and accomplice in Pristina, Hashim Thaci, recently indicted war criminal.“

Regarding the recent anti-government protest in Belgrade and several other places across Serbia, Jeremic said that the country’s streets „are freedom last refuge“ and that people felt that  „the fear of coronavirus epidemic is less dangerous for their future than Vucic’s regime.“