Vucic: Czechia increasingly important economic partner to Serbia

BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Czech PM Andrej Babis in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday the friendship between Serbia and Czechia was on a high level and that it was reflected not only in bilateral political relations, but also in steadily improving economic relations and growing bilateral trade.

Vucic thanked Babis and Czechia for supporting Serbia on the EU path.

"We discussed that and, as a rational and realistic man, knowing how things in the EU are developing and understanding the position of European leaders and everything that is going on, I said that, for Serbia, the most important thing is to become a part of the European single market in the coming years and that we have open borders in the region, as well as with all EU member states," Vucic said at a press conference with Babis at the Palace of Serbia.

He noted that Serbia was interested in economic progress and that he was very pleased with the pace of that progress.

"Today, we have a significantly higher growth rate compared to the growth rate at EU level, and we have not had it for one, two or three years, but for several consecutive years. The difference will be even greater next year. We will keep reducing the gap and the difference in wealth between western European countries and Serbia in the future, too. After listening to PM Babis's statements, I believe he holds a similar position and that it would be necessary and good to do pragmatic and practical things that would be in the interest of both Europe and candidate countries from the Western Balkans and other parts of our continent," Vucic said.

He said Czechia was becoming an increasingly important economic partner to Serbia, and added that the annual volume of bilateral trade had totalled 430 mln euros 12 years ago, compared to the present 2.4 bln euros a year.

He said that, in the same period, Serbian exports to Czechia had risen from 130 mln to 1.3 bln a year.

"We also discussed the economy today, new investors coming from Czechia. We will have a business forum today, new Czech investors are coming, and we spoke about that today. We also discussed all other forms of cooperation, from cooperation in military technology to cooperation in the services trade, and I think those are all important things for both Czechia and Serbia," Vucic noted.

He added that the closest cooperation with Czechia would be continued.

"In particular, PM (Djuro) Macut had important discussions about health care and about acquiring certain know-how from the Czech Republic in that field," Vucic said.

He added that Czech companies operating in Serbia, such as Mattoni, PPF and many others, were becoming increasingly important investors in the country.

"I can say I am happy to know Andrej Babis well. We have been friends for many years, and I am saying I am happy because you can always hear many intelligent things from him and learn a lot, so I used this opportunity, too, to hear, and learn, much from him as one of the most experienced and one of the wisest and the most capable European leaders. I believe that experience, too, will help us in further development of our country," Vucic said.

He said the Serbs and Czechs were bonded by wonderful history and that much had been gained from their friendship, and noted that the Serbs had often learned much from Czechs and perceived them as models.

Vucic: Parliamentary elections due in October or November, presidential polls to be held slightly later

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday parliamentary elections would be called in September or early October and held in October or November, and that presidential elections would take place "slightly later."

"The elections are expected to be held either in October or November. That is when the elections will be held, which means that they will be called either in September or early October," Vucic said at a press conference with Czech PM Andrej Babis, in response to a Czech reporter's question if and when elections would be called.

"As early as last year, I said elections would be held by the end of 2026, and I am keeping my word. It is up to the people to express their free will," Vucic said.

Vucic: Strategic dialogue with US important for Serbia, some things are not simple

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday Belgrade had launched strategic dialogue with the US and that it was important for Serbia, but noted that it also involved things that were not simple or easy.

Asked by a reporter about the importance of cooperation in the nuclear power sector and whether the partnership could bring concrete projects that would be important for Serbia's energy future after Serbia-US relations had been raised to the level of strategic partnership, Vucic responded that the strategic dialogue had only just been launched.

"That topic is a very complex one, it has been given only symbolic attention here, and few people have got into the essence or wanted to get deep into it to find out what this really entails. There are also things there that are not simple or easy, there are things that must be debated in our society, but this is an important change, reflected in a US desire to treat Serbia differently," Vucic said at a press conference with Czech PM Andrej Babis.