Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic caused alarm in a response to an unspecified threat about both his country and the ethnically Serb Republika Srpska part of Bosnia – saying ‘difficult days are ahead’
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has prompted concern after making a stark comment regarding the future of his country.
Posting on social media on Tuesday, Mr Vucic caused alarm bells in response to an unspecified threat about both his country and the ethnically Serb Republika Srpska region of Bosnia, the Daily Express reports. The politician wrote on Facebook: “Difficult days are ahead of Serbia. At this moment, it is not easy to say what kind of news we have received in the last 48 hours, [but] they directly threaten our vital national interests, both of Serbia and [Republika] Srpska.”
The populist politician added: “In the coming days, I will introduce the people of Serbia to all the challenges that lie ahead. It will be difficult. We will fight. Serbia will win.” Mr Vucic supports his country’s move to join the European Union, however he wishes to retain strong ties with Russia and China, and hasn’t clarified the meaning behind the widely-reported post.
Also on Tuesday, he shared a video on Instagram with the following caption: “There is a small nation in Europe, in a small country, in a small territory, which still stands proud and dignified, which does not agree to occupation and orders from outside. A small but proud people who want a future for themselves and their children. You can cut off our air, we will not give you freedom, because we love Serbia, we live for Serbia!”
There are concerns Serbia might be preparing for war, and these concerns have been mounting recently. In September the White House denounced an “unprecedented” build up of Serb troops along the border of Kosovo, which is a country Belgrade does not acknowledge. Additionally, last year in September, Serb gunmen ransacked a Kosovo village and barricaded themselves in a monastery amid clashes with police. The incident meant four people were killed.
More recently, Mr Vucic said last week Belgrade may leave the Council of Europe, of which it has been a member since 2003, if Kosovo joins the organisation. Tensions are also high between Serbia and Bosnia due to Republika Srpska, as its leader Milorad Dodik vowed in December to declare full independence of the Serbia-leaning region. Mr Vucic and Mr Dodik met in person on March 27 to discuss preparations for the great Easter Assembly – an event to take place between May 5 and 6 during which “significant decisions” will be taken, the president said.
