go to the original language article
BELGRADE – Stellantis has launched a trial production of the new electric model “Fiat Grande Panda” in Kragujevac, and serial production will begin in two months, said President Aleksandar Vučić, who also emphasized that the signed Memorandum with the EU on critical raw materials is an excellent thing and a generational opportunity. He stressed that these are huge things for Serbia, as salaries and pensions will be increased based on that.
Speaking about the Memorandum with the EU on critical raw materials, Vučić said that signing that document is an excellent thing and a great opportunity for Serbia, but also for the whole region. This is a generational opportunity, Vučić emphasized. He also said that Serbia has its conditions regarding the rule of law, specifically those from chapters 23 and 24, which concern Serbia’s European path, adding that the future contract on lithium will be commercial. “The lithium contract will be, since it doesn’t exist now, a commercial contract, just as the contract for investment in a cathode or cathode active material factory and a battery factory will be,” Vučić said.
The President of Serbia also said that “wars will be waged” over lithium because some countries will be much more successful, while others will lag behind. He pointed out that it will take five years to complete the water purification plants in Slanci and Veliko Selo, so that the Danube and Sava in Belgrade will be “as clear as the Danube in Vienna.” “The first phase is being done by the Chinese, and the second phase will most likely be done by the French company Suez, which will be billions in investments,” Vučić said, adding that Serbia is doing these things “responsibly, although it is very difficult for many reasons.”
He emphasized that some countries managed to rise from the poorest to the richest, thanks to their leaders making the right and responsible decisions, and added that “it is important to make decisions in accordance with the interests of the country, not party or personal interests.”
Asked to comment on the Western media’s writing about whether the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Belgrade means a change in Serbia’s position in terms of imposing sanctions on Russia, the President replied that Serbia is not abandoning the European path, but that Europe is not worried about what Serbia has done or not, but because of his stance and whether he believes in a European future. “Europe is worried not because of what Serbia is actually doing or not, and it has done a lot in terms of approaching the single European market, and we will confirm this with government decisions at the beginning of August and we will be the first country to accept everything in line with the very difficult path that must be followed. They are not worried about that, nor the fact that they write that we are Russian agents, they are worried about my attitude, they are not sure if I believe in a European future because they think that if I were pushing for it, we would finish faster,” Vučić said.
He emphasized that it is important for Serbia to fulfill its reform tasks, as well as that he is at the head of an independent and sovereign country that has its interests in different parts of the world but is not abandoning the European path. Vučić also added that he is not sure about the year 2030 in relation to EU membership. “I am not sure how all this will develop. But it is important to be on that path, it is important to do good things for us and for our citizens. And we will see, it also depends on the situation in the EU,” Vučić said. He explained that if his view of the situation in Ukraine is different, it does not mean that we are enemies. Vučić also said that he has not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for two and a half years and that Putin takes Serbia’s position into account, meaning he does not want to seek that kind of conversation to avoid compromising Vučić. Vučić also assessed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski is three times “more reasonable” than many others he has spoken to in London. “He knows the situation on the ground better. It’s easy when someone else is dying, and Ukrainians are dying every day. Regarding the sanctions, I believe we made the right decision,” Vučić said. He also said that he wants to respect everyone, but he believes it is best for Serbia to have its own policy. “I respect everyone, be it the first, second, third, or fifth – I just want us to have Serbian policy, our own policy,” Vučić said. He stated that Serbia’s path is excellent, clarifying that Serbia should be on the European path while cooperating with China, Russia, and everyone else. (July 22)