German politician and former minister Michael Roth has repeatedly criticized Serbia’s closeness to Russia and Vladimir Putin. Roth made similar comments regarding the meeting between Aleksandar Vulin and Putin.
The German politician, labeling Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, stated that if Vulin’s positions reflect the stance of the Serbian Government, then talks about EU integration become meaningless. Roth argued that proximity to war criminals and the dismantling of democracy could lead Serbia to the Kremlin but certainly not to the EU.
“Friendship with war criminals and dismantling democracy might lead to the Kremlin, but definitely not to the EU,” Roth wrote.
In response to this statement, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić addressed the issue during a press appearance.
Vučić said that if he had listened to Roth, the Republic of Kosovo would have been a UN member state and Serbia would not exist economically, and Republika Srpska would have ceased to exist long ago.
The Serbian head of state mentioned his recent phone call with Scholz, attempting to emphasize the importance of the German Government’s position over Roth’s remarks.
“If I had listened to Roth, Kosovo would have been a state and a UN member long ago; if I had listened to Roth, Serbia would not exist economically; if I had listened to him, Republika Srpska would have ceased to exist long ago… I had a very good conversation with Olaf Scholz, and comparing Scholz and Roth doesn’t make much sense. I wish him all the best. It’s good he stopped getting involved in politics because he was very unsuccessful,” Vučić said.
