Presidents Of Serbia

"I warned them that the war was ahead of us, that it was prepared, and that they would save the honour of their people by deserting that war. But what I said then was not heard because of cannons."

"I think this kind of agenda is not appropriate and usual. It is better to talk about the problems first, and then see if we should talk about the people, if we need to talk abou that too."

"After the 8th session, Serbia very quickly went far, far, into two of its tragic restorations: into Stalinist socialism and crazed nationalism."

"So under the pretext of fulfilling conditions for the European Union we are actually giving ourselves an opportunity to organise the country. I don’t want us to adopt laws [simply so they] will be approved by the European Union. I want them to be implemented, that they become part of everyday practice."

"I am grateful to the citizens of Serbia for giving this chance to the government to do so much. But in foreign policy we will not change anything. We will do everything to be friends with all the countries in the world, both with those who have recognised and those who did not recognise the independence of Kosovo and Metohija, because we do understand that everyone leads their own country and people in the way they think is the best for their country and people."

"I'm expecting Kosovo to declare independence. If they declare, we'll stop Kosovo Albanians coming to Serbia. We'll stop them traveling through Serbia. We won't recognize their passports ... we'll cut off the supply of goods to Kosovo."

"The independence of Kosovo has no base in international law. We won't take diplomatic action against any country that supports and respects the UN Security Council."

"For seven years, we have been under the influence of Western Europe. We have done all that was asked of us by the West. That was our mistake. But the EU also made a mistake. They should have given us full membership straight away. Now we have a situation where the Russian Federation is recovering very well, and the EU is depending on Russia for gas. I think Serbia should be the place where Russian and Western power is balanced...."

"The situation in the world is extremely complicated. And the position of Serbia is exclusively complicated. Sure, we were not able to follow it without the understanding from the Russian Federation regarding the efforts we have been undertaking in the attempts to keep the balance on the other side, too – in the West, by persuading them not to insist on breaking up relations with Russia, as this is not considered in the economic, or in political or in any other aspect."

"We faced a dilemma regarding whether to be in a permanent conflict with the Albanians or to resolve this issue. We did not have too much power in our hands. We did have good arguments and justice on our side, but the international media supports the Albanians very openly. Over the years, our people were forced to leave Kosovo and if this was allowed to continue, we might wake up one day to find out that we have no more of our people there. That is why we have decided to raise the negotiations to the highest possible level and not to take off this territory that is Kosovo that is not fully under the power of Serbia anymore. In the same way we said to the Albanians there is no way to take Kosovo territory that is not under your power, and that is the northern part with the Serbian community. We ask for certain rights for this community. And now we are not waging war, we are negotiating."

"Scientists agree that the average global temperature will rise a few degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century. The severity of natural disasters will grow, as their frequency depends directly on the intensity of global warming. Not a single state, the size and economic growth notwithstanding, is immune to the whims of nature, which we "don't inherit from our ancestors, but borrow from our children.""

"The consequences of climate change will only add to the tensions caused by stark inequalities across the world. In all fairness, imposing any limitations will have the strongest impact on the weakest - those who are yet to get their industry off the ground and improve the lives of their citizens. They need to be given an opportunity to grow."

"We, the politicians, have to offer full support to research on the one hand, and a harmonized, coordinated response to climate change and extreme weather on the other. It is our first and foremost duty to plan and adjust the activities of the state and society to every possible scenario, including the worst of all possible cases."

"Nature has never deceived itself, but we tend to be in denial. Let's be honest, if for no other reason, then for our children; let's build self-respect by respecting the planet we harmed so seriously, and the earth, much cleaner and healthier when given to us to take care of..."

"I am encouraged that my son let me know that life has been returning to China, more cars can be seen along the streets, as people start going to work, although the control is still rigorous. I am confident that you will overcome this."

"The success of the BRI lies in fully taking into consideration the political and cultural differences of various countries, and China will not collaborate with different countries in the same uniform mode. Instead, countries can negotiate with China from their own specific national condition."

"The consequences of corruption are not reflected solely in the impoverishment of society and the state, but in the drastic decline in the trust of citizens in democratic institutions. In addition, corruption creates uncertainty and instability in the economy and has a negative impact on the level of investments."

"After more than a year since my election to the office of the President of Serbia and the appointment of the new government, which has rightly been subject to recent reconstruction, I am pleased to confirm that Serbia has unambiguously demonstrated an adherence to European values. I am pleased to note that this commitment by my country has been recognized by our international partners. In other words, Serbia has become a responsible, sincere and reliable partner, endeavouring to perceive problems realistically and approach solutions in a constructive and effective way in the spirit of dialogue and tolerance. We take pride in the visible results that we have achieved, despite the numerous challenges that Serbia has faced in the past."

"Serbia is a step away from a great opportunity, which I assure you we will not miss. We will use all our capacities to make Serbia a European country in every respect, in accordance with the basic values of the Council of Europe – the protection of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. Serbia is firmly committed to continue to co-operate, and to promote its relations, with the Council of Europe to reach such goals for the benefit of its citizens. I trust that we can count on your support along those lines."

"You can be at the same time both nationalist and pro-European, but I know this is difficult to explain to you in Europe because Serbian nationalism was always presented as something negative. But I love my country just like you love your country, and [I love] my people like you love your people."

"We don't have children to throw away, we have to protect Serbia. If only we hadn't participated in all the wars of the 20th century, we would be bigger than the Netherlands. We have to try to preserve peace, but not give away what is ours."

"Come and bomb us, kill one Serb and we will kill 100 Muslims."

"I didn’t really have a lot of achievements, and what I am proud of today is hard work. I am proud of never having been lazy. As far as results are concerned, I can tell you that the fight against corruption and the economic reforms are what I am most proud of now, but looking back at that period – it is most certain that I have never been lazy and have never acted against my country."

"We can destroy all their party premises throughout Serbia. All of them."

"Milosevic was a great Serbian leader whose intentions were certainly for the best"

"Extremist ideas are something that will kill us all in the Balkans, something that will ruin our still very fragile democratic societies."

"And we have no limits, no restrictions on any of the social networks, unlike many Western European countries. We have 78 to 79 percent of our population using social networks. People just have their phones. And they have all different news in their phones."

"Serbs are very much attracted by the Western living standards, the standards of people. That’s why they like Germans. Because they bring their factories, they bring their plants to this country. They respect them very much. And the way of living is something that is preferable in the West than in the East, no doubt."

"It is very difficult to tackle people’s sentiments and people’s emotions. But this is our job to do it, to do everything in a very rational and realistic way."

"The Russians have their interests and we have ours. The Russians don't make us any gifts, but they have given us a good price."

"What I'm wondering is this: Why did the West open a Pandora's box in 2008 by recognizing Kosovo?"

"See, you say that Serbia will recognise the independence of Kosovo to get Republika Srpska in return. That's not going to happen. None of that is real nor good nor we need it, and this is all I can say about it. I refuse to speak about something that does not exist. We don't need the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina."

"We believe it is in the best interest of (Kosovo) Albanians and the international community ... to talk about a free flow of capital, people and services."

"Every time since 2014, when I first became the Prime Minister, we have had protests after every election. That is probably due to the influence of the social networks in which those people hide in closed-off political circles, ones in which they do not notice anyone else, where they love to listen to only what they want to hear and see. At the same time, that group of people, who held those protests, has continued to live in an echo chamber and, due to their false projections, were never able to recognize where the majority was. This political minority never understood what people in Serbia wanted, as it was easier for them to believe that they were the majority just because they surround themselves with those who think in the same way they do."

"If you live in a small country which is geographically at the crossroads, then your policy should be maintain peace and stability, either by not having arguments with anyone, which is impossible, or having arguments with everyone equally."

"Serbia is on its European path, but Serbia has to live, and has friends in the U.S. but it also has friends and it is not ashamed of them in Moscow and in Beijing."

"Sometimes we have to protect our military neutrality by being all alone."

"The most important thing is that we show determination to continue the dialogue and that we will always try to solve everything by talking. I want to believe that it is possible."

"We ask for a clear answer to the question I've been asking my interlocutors, leaders of many countries for years - what is the difference between the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, which was grossly violated, and for which you provided international recognition and legitimacy, at least some of you? Nobody has ever provided a rational answer to that question."

"Serbia has not and will not export weapons to Ukraine."

"I believe in Serbia that moves forward - towards the European Union. There will be no going back for Serbia, only forwards."

"I swear that I will invest all my efforts in the preservation of sovereignty and integrity of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohija as its integral part, as well as the realization of human and minority rights and freedoms, observation and defense of the Constitution and laws, preservation of peace and welfare of all Serbian citizens and that I will fulfill all my duties conscientiously and responsibly."

"Today's judgment by the more than 60 year-old International Court of Justice that presides in The Hague, is very important for the Republic of Serbia and its citizens, because it establishes that Serbia did not commit genocide in Bosnia and Hercegovina."

"I hope that no one is going to offer some kind of trade of [Serbia's] future status in the European Union for (recognising) Kosovo's independence. That would be a disaster, that would be an indecent proposal and … this is not the European spirit and way of thinking."