Vucic: Lithium mining to go ahead only if it is no threat to environment

PARACIN - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday there would be no lithium mining in Serbia for at least another four years and that he would not allow any lithium mining to go ahead until it was confirmed it would not pose a threat to the environment.

Responding to questions from reporters at the Pasuljanske livade military training range in central Serbia, Vucic said he was prepared for any expert debate on the subject.

"What you are trying to say is that I want to destroy the environment. On the contrary - I will not let them do anything until it is guaranteed that people will be able to live a normal life without environmental threats," he said.

"But I will also outline plans about what people across the Radjevina region (western Serbia) will get. I want to show them how much money they can earn and get, and how much bigger Loznica's budget can get," Vucic said.