Vucic: The world is changing rapidly, everything began with the violation of international law through the aggression against the FRY

The world is changing faster than we expected, and everything began with the violation of international law through the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the West’s intention to send a signal of power to the world, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic emphasized while addressing students at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

“All principles were trampled on. And this is best seen in the case of Ukraine, when they say that international law was violated for the first time, that aggression was committed for the first time in recent history. But that is not true, because it happened much earlier, in 1999, when our country, without UN approval, under the pretext of preventing a possible humanitarian catastrophe, was attacked by 19 NATO member states with the aim of seceding 14 percent of our territory,” Vucic explained.

By doing so, he said, they wanted to send a clear message to the rest of the world about their power.

“They also wanted to send a message to China by bombing the Chinese embassy in Belgrade. They intended to show what happens to all those who do not obey them,” Vucic stressed.

According to him, Serbia was punished for its disobedience.

He recalled that during the two world wars Serbia lost 29 percent of its population simply because it did not want to submit to the Austrians and Germans, and that Belgrade was the only city in the region bombed by the Germans, and later in 1999 by 19 NATO countries, simply because Serbia wanted to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Vucic pointed out that Iraq was treated in a similar way – through claims that it possessed nuclear capabilities, which served as the basis for launching the worst campaign against that country, while portraying its leadership as dictatorial.

“Just one day later they forgot about their own story and no one mentions Iraq’s nuclear capabilities anymore, just as no one mentions the humanitarian catastrophe, the pretext under which Serbia was bombed,” Vucic noted.

He stressed that today this is done differently – through the use of non-governmental organizations, the abuse of minority and religious rights, as well as the education and healthcare systems and the media.

As an example, he also mentioned Tiananmen, events that the West portrayed as a massacre, only for the opening of the US embassy archives to reveal that they had lied about those events.

“But who cares so many years later,” Vucic added.

According to him, in Serbia they attempted to carry out a “color revolution” aimed at overthrowing the government several months before the elections in Hungary.

“In Hungary they completed the job, but in Serbia they were unsuccessful. Their strength is not great and I would not bet on them in future elections. We successfully resisted by relying on the citizens, not on institutions,” Vucic explained.

He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in Davos in 2021 to which the West still has no answer.

As he stated, Xi at that time showed an unexpected face of China, saying that Beijing supports globalization, is open to market liberalization and encourages free trade.

“He said that at a time when Americans and Europeans had begun establishing more and more barriers, because they could not fight Chinese dominance in many areas in any other way. The Chinese president then presented a new era and pointed to the age that is coming,” the Serbian president stressed.

He emphasized that China has become a role model for the Global South and sovereign states.

He pointed to the excellent relations between Serbia and China, saying that Serbian citizens love China and the Chinese people.

Speaking about China’s respect for Serbia, he conveyed that President Xi received him in the same manner as the president of the United States.

“That is what makes the difference in the new world. The situation we have now also arose because no one shows respect for others,” Vucic emphasized.

University rector Li Luming pointed out that President Vucic is very well known in China because he has long been dedicated to building the best possible relations and is a sincere friend of Beijing.

“The Friendship Medal is the best proof of the friendship between the two countries. Serbia and China are partners and friends. In recent years, under the leadership of the two countries’ leaders, the strengthening of ties has progressed significantly,” Li Luming stated.

Vucic: Surely the EU will not forbid me what they allowed themselves

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that there can be nothing controversial about his visit to China from Brussels’ point of view, because European Union countries already cooperate with China.

“They have long been investing enormous amounts of money in China and doing business with China. Surely they will not forbid me what they allowed themselves. I believe in the principled nature of the EU and European leaders… How could they forbid me something they allowed themselves,” Vucic asked, commenting on certain claims that his visit to China was “a red flag for Brussels.”

As he said, he came to China to fight for Serbia and for new investments.

After touring the Xiaomi company facility where cars are produced, he said he invited the company, when considering investments in Europe, to consider Serbia as a possible investment destination.

“We talked, we offered the best subsidies if they want to come to Serbia. We invited them to Expo to present their products,” Vucic said.