Vucic: Serbia will do all it can to avoid any conflict in 21st century

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday all developments in Europe and around the world were leading to a disaster and noted that Serbia would do all it could to avoid any conflict in the 21st century and look after its economy.

"When a train leaves the station and picks up speed while going downhill and, after a while, approaches a cliff and an abyss that is beneath... So, think about it, can a train survive a fall into an abyss, and there is no other route? When it is rushing headlong the way it is, who can stop it? I am afraid no one can anymore," Vucic said in a comment on statements by French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin about arms supplies.

Speaking to reporters in Zemun at the unveiling of a Chinese-made high-speed train named Soko (Falcon), Vucic noted that preserving peace and protecting the people was what was important for Serbia.

"We will do all we can for Serbia to avoid any conflict, any war in the 21st century and make strides, in peace, towards great economic success," Vucic said.

He noted that Serbia's public debt was below 50 pct of GDP and that he expected the country to attain investment-grade rating by the end of this year.

That shows the government's finances are stable, he noted.

"We are now buying the first quantities of wheat, we are bolstering the stocks of all foodstuffs and getting raw materials for our medicines," Vucic also said.