18. 06. 2014

PM: Montenegrin counterpart "not far from truth"

Belgrade, 18.6.2014. (Beta, Tanjug, B92) - PM Aleksandar Vučić has thanked his Montenegrin counterpart for the concern he showed, adding that "the state is stronger than those who would destroy it."

Milo Đukanović on Thursday "warned Vučić that the 'handwriting' of certain articles in the Belgrade press is very similar to that from 2003."

"Everything that appeared in public in the last ten days, and as far as the atmosphere is concerned, my colleague Đukanović is not far from the truth. I neither can nor want to caution those who are doing it, I only plead with them not to underestimate the state, as it will react faster and more powerfully than you can imagine," Vučić was quoted as saying following his meeting in Belgrade on Thursday with Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek.

"They're wrong, all those who think they will manage to topple the Serbian state and defeat the state authorities via various security agencies and problems," he said in response to Tanjug's request to comment on Đukanović's reaction to articles that have recently claimed he "planned a strike against independent media in Serbia."

"The state is much stronger and in the short period ahead you will see for yourself," Vučić said. He added that "these are the individuals for whom the government created big problems through its serious work."

Vučić noted that "it has always been more difficult to be in politics in Serbia than anywhere else," but then, according to Tanjug, joked, "it carries with it more charm here."

He stressed that Serbia and Montenegro have good and friendly relations, on the highest and best level since Montenegro became an independent state.

"I have good and friendly relations with Prime Minister Đukanović and I am grateful for the concern he showed," stressed Vučić.

Earlier in the day Đukanović reacted to reports in the Belgrade media about his intention to attack independent media in Serbia, to say that these "constructs" did not in fact target him, and that he believed that Vučić would "correctly decipher the handwriting of the articles that is very reminiscent of that from 2003."

The media in Belgrade recently reported, quoting unnamed sources, that the Montenegrin prime minister was preparing an attack on independent media in Serbia, which, among other things, includes discrediting them, labeling them as "the media mafia", fabricating fake scandals and court cases, and threats and assaults on "disobedient journalists."