Ruptly
"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during a joint press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa in Belgrade on Thursday, confirmed his attendance in a Montenegro regional summit despite warnings from Serbia's intelligence services of a 'high security risk'. "I will talk about other things in Montenegro, not here, but I will go down there, to the street, and say everything I have to say," Vucic stressed. "About various games where Serbia is portrayed as 'little Russia', and they as oppressed Baltic countries, approximately, always threatened by us, and so on. So, I will talk about that, but in Montenegro. You know, since I am not afraid to speak the truth," he added. Earlier on Wednesday an ongoing diplomatic row between the two Balkan neighbours escalated, as Montenegrin police returned a charter plane with 87 Serbian nationals on board, claiming them to be Vucic supporters. In turn, Belgrade tightened border control measures with Montenegrin nationals reportedly refused entry. Tivat summit is scheduled for Friday, with Western Balkan and the EU leaders participating, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Speaking about EU accession process Vucic emphasised Serbia's determination to 'stay on the European path'. "You have seen that even when we were signing agreements with our Chinese friends, it is stated in them that we are on the European path and we do not… We hide from no one and that's how it was, and that's how it will remain," he concluded. In turn, Costa praised Serbia as European Union's "most significant partner in trade, investment, and crucially in strengthening democratic institutions." "We want, and we are ready to do more. But let me be clear, the pace of progress depends on Serbia's own resolve. Time is of the essence. And the European Union's door remains open, but the window for decisive action is now," he said. "All the countries need to fulfil different criteria. And what we are working here in Serbia and with Ukraine and in Moldova and with the other five Western Balkans candidates is to work step by step to deliver on this," Costa concluded. Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012, but accession talks have advanced slowly amid concerns over democratic reforms, relations with Kosovo and Belgrade's refusal to align fully with EU sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine conflict."
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