Vucic: Difficult times, some people want Serbian names and surnames to disappear in Kosovo

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, pointed out today that the country was facing numerous problems in Kosovo because some simply wanted to expel the Serbs from their centuries-old hearths and that the Serbian name and surname disappeared in Kosovo.

"They tied our hands, but even with our hands tied, we manage as much as possible to preserve our people and holy places," Vucic said in Sant'Andrea, after Bishop Lukijan of Buda presented him with the medal of the First Order of the Eparchy of Buda.

He noted that it was not much easier for the Serbs in Republika Srpska, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"I hope that they will also have the strength, but whatever the times may be, and they are not easy and will be even more difficult, the people of Kosovo and Metohija and Republika Srpska will be able to count on Serbia.  Together, we will continue to invest in our sanctuaries," the President of Serbia said.

Vucic pointed out that times were not easy at all, because, he said, the Serbs had learned that - "when others don't go to war, we have to, and when others go to war, we have to play a leading role".

"For the first time in Europe and the world, they are at war in one way or another, and we are trying not to lose our children and are looking for peace, just like our Hungarian hosts.  We want peace in Ukraine and I hope that we will see it soon," Vucic said.

He stated that he was honored by the medal that was presented to him, adding that Serbia, as much as it could, helped its church, not only in Hungary, but throughout Serbia, Republika Srpska, Montenegro, and almost all of Europe.

He added that he was grateful to the Serbian Orthodox Church because he is the only president who was awarded the highest church award - the Order of Saint Sava.

Vucic pointed out that today in Hungary it was easier for all Serbs to do anything because we have sincere friends in Hungarians, for which Prime Minister Viktor Orban is to blame, who, he said, had had the courage, desire, and vision to build a common future together with the Serbs.

"We have never been this close, Serbia and Hungary, the Serbs and the Hungarians.  I'm proud of that fact, if we just did that, it wouldn't have been a little.  We will continue cooperation," Vucic said and thanked all the Serbs who had come to the church in Sent’Andrea, congratulated them on today's religious holiday, the Transfiguration, and also to all Hungarians on their national holiday tomorrow.

The order was presented to Vucic for his special merits and care for the Eparchy of Buda and the Serbian Orthodox Church as a whole, as well as for supporting the Serbs in Hungary in their efforts to preserve their national and religious identity.

The President was presented with the medal in the Church of the Transfiguration in Sant'Andrea, where he began a two-day visit to Hungary, during which he will attend the celebration of the Hungarian national holiday, as well as the ceremonial opening of the World Championships in Athletics.

The presentation of the order was attended by the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik and the Serbian member of the Bosnia and Herzegovia Presidency Zeljka Cvijanovic, as well as the Minister of Sports of Serbia Zoran Gajic, as well as a large number of Serbs.

Bishop Lukijan of Buda thanked Vucic for his help, adding that thanks to him, the dream of the mother's great concern for her people outside of Serbia had become a reality.

"Good relations between the two countries mean a lot to the Serbs in Hungary and the Hungarians in Serbia.  Mother's care for us today can be seen at every step and everyone can be convinced of her," Bishop Lukijan said