Djuric: Konakovic mocks and plays with the national sentiments of Serbian citizens

In light of the invitation from BIH Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic to President Aleksandar Vucic in New York on July 11th, as well as in Potocari, with a comment that he "can wrap himself in the flag, or not," Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated that the BIH minister is playing with the national sentiments of Serbian citizens, reminding him that Vucic had already visited Potocari to pay his respects to the victims, but was brutally attacked there.

"I have uncomfortably received public mockery and playing with the national feelings of numerous Serbian citizens by the BIH Foreign Minister Konakovic. Serbia will always, as before, pay respects to all victims, regardless of nationality or ethnic background, although this is often not the case in certain neighboring countries," Djuric emphasized, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He pointed out that Konakovic seems to pretend that he has forgotten that President Aleksandar Vucic went to Potocari to lay flowers and pay respects to the victims.

"He went to pay tribute to the victims and their families, and then it happened that he was brutally attacked, precisely by those who today 'advocate' for a false peace and false cooperation," Djuric noted.

He also adds that Konakovic has obviously forgotten that none of those attackers or instigators of the attack on Vucic have been prosecuted or punished by the competent BIH authorities to this day.

He also stressed that Serbia is a country that has equally prosecuted all those who committed monstrous acts during the wars.

"Which neighboring country has in such a manner and in such a proportional percentage brought its citizens who committed crimes to justice? Does this mean there were no Serbian victims, that a Serbian mother did not cry over tens of thousands of slain sons? Is this the justice and reconciliation that Minister Konakovic talks about?" Djuric asked.

He also questioned why Konakovic and "his bosses" continuously insist on reopening old wounds and past issues.

Djuric reiterated that the adopted Resolution has unequivocally introduced, not just new divisions in the Balkans, but also within the UN itself.

"Konakovic and his bosses have once again shown that their political ambitions stand above the essence, and the essence must be peace and stability in the Balkans," Minister Djuric pointed out.

The policy led by the President of Serbia is, he emphasizes, precisely a policy of reconciliation, stability, and looking forward, but this, he notes, does not mean renouncing one's own identity and principles.

"We are always ready to talk about everything, we will never seek others', but we will always decisively defend our own. Serbs are a proud people. Proud of their country. Proud of their flag. Not endangering others. It is not decent to indirectly ridicule that pride with the flag. The Serbian flag, Mr. Konakovic, is the flag of the brave. You could learn something about that. The Serbian tricolor will proudly and freely flutter on every house that wishes to display it," Djuric told his colleague from Sarajevo.