Vucic: We have two goals for 2026 - peace and stability, best year for economy

BELGRADE - We have two goals for 2026 - peace and stability and that it be the best year in Serbia's history, especially in the economy, President Aleksandar Vucic said at an annual conference on Tuesday.

"It seems to me that everything we have been doing and will be doing can literally focus on accomplishing those two goals," Vucic said at the eGovernment House.

He said Serbia would continue a policy of military neutrality and a policy of peace in the region and worldwide and adhere to the UN Charter and UN resolutions, mot only when it comes to the Kosovo-Metohija issue, but also to all other crises around the world.

"At the same time, we will be protecting our country from potential aggressors and do everything to deter them from attacking Serbia," Vucic said.

"We live in times that are not easily predictable," he said.

"In times when, when you wake up, you see that a new war has broken out somewhere in the world even though it was not talked about before, in times when no one can predict whether the Ukraine conflict will come to an end - which I doubt will happen anytime soon, even though I would like that more than anything in the world," Vucic added.

He also said he was almost certain tensions in other parts of the planet would rise.

"Meanwhile, it is important that, regardless of the influences we are and will be exposed to, we preserve our stability, preserve peace and try to advance cooperation with all the various actors around the world," Vucic said.

Vucic: I am hoping for positive OFAC decision on NIS

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday he did not know when the US Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) could issue an operating licence to Serbia's oil company NIS, but that he hoped a decision by the OFAC and the US State Department would be a positive one.

NIS is under US sanctions due to its Russian majority ownership.

Vucic was speaking at an annual conference, held at the eGovernment House in Belgrade.

"I really do not know when the OFAC will make a decision. We await it eagerly, and I am hoping for a positive decision by both the OFAC and the State Department. We are hoping - sincerely," Vucic said in response to a reporter's question, adding that he would be happy if NIS received an operating licence.