Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in his inauguration speech that a new government should be formed by the end of July, adding that the authorities will have to deal with the issue of sanctions against Russia.
“We will have to deal with the new sanctions which could inflict damage on us again and we will ask our European partners for help,” he said after being sworn in. Vucic said that he would start consultations on a new government as soon as the new parliament is formed.
The president said his priorities are peace, stability, independent decision making, Serbia’s freedom security, health, Europe but added that the interest of others crossed paths over Serbia. “The world is changing dramatically before our eyes and the attack on Ukraine is a turning point in international relations,” he said, adding that Russia wanted an end to Western domination and the West want to maintain its supremacy and protect international law which was violated dozens of times in the past, often by the Western powers as in 1999 when the FRY was attacked without a UN Security Council decision.
Vucic told MPs that he talked “one of the greatest European leaders” for seven hours and was told that it is up to him to decide what he can accept and do for the young people of Serbia. “He was right when he said that we have to focus on the future and our children because they don’t have to pay the debts of our generation,” he said.
Vucic said he will devote himself to Serbia’s path to Europe because he thinks that is a good thing. “We say that they are not fair to us but we are also not fair to them. It’s very nice and easy to take money from European Union taxpayers and not even say thanks. The EU … has to be our determination because of trade, investments and because we want to belong to that society and we will work on democratization, strengthening the independent judiciary and media freedom,” he said.
According to Vucic, Kosovo is a key issue which will be hard to resolve, adding that “we have to seek a compromise”. In his oath, Vucic swore to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia including Kosovo.
Vucic said that a new government has to formed quickly “because we urgently need to deal with next winter and supplies of fuels, the situation is alarming”. He said the government needs to tackle a new energy policy, health care, digitalization and the environment.
He said that Serbia will maintain its military neutrality. “We are not politically neutral, we are on the European path and we know our obligations,” he said. The president said that Belgrade will always be open for a dialogue with Zagreb and Sarajevo. He said Serbia will insist on no changes to the Dayton Agreement without the approval of all three constituent people in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
