Brnabic: Uninvited MEPs have shown disrespect to Serbia

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday an upcoming visit to Belgrade by members of the European Parliament (EP) was a sign of disrespect for the Serbian parliament and institutions, the people of Serbia and the country itself as no consultations about the date of the visit had taken place.

Responding to criticism from opposition MPs over her refusal to meet with the MEPs, Brnabic said the MEPs had informed her on December 19 that they would come to Belgrade on January 23, uninvited.

"Since they are coming uninvited, consultations about the date, at least, would be the basic sign of respect, but when someone tells you: 'Hey, I am coming in a month's time, you show up there, I do not care what you are doing, I do not care whether you have commitments. You are going to be there and wait for me so that we can have a discussion, because I am above you.' That is utter disrespect," Brnabic said during a parliamentary debate on a set of bills on the judiciary.

Serbia is led by serious and responsible people who have commitments that are arranged in advance and who are fighting for their country, and opposition representatives used that to complain to the MEPs, telling them that they would certainly receive them as they have no commitments, Brnabic said.

The opposition's move just proves what the country would look like if they were leading it, she added.