Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has defended the Serbian government’s handling of the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, telling CNN that Serbia had done nothing for which it should apologize.
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Vučić was asked about reports that the Serbian government had provided an aircraft to transport Mladić’s remains and that Vučić’s son attended the funeral.
Vučić denied that the funeral was organized with state honors, stressing that Serbia’s senior officials did not attend and that his son was present in a private capacity.
“I don’t see anything for which we should apologize, because we haven’t done anything wrong,” Vučić said, adding that Serbia had provided logistical support for the funeral “in a decent and civilized manner,” as it had done for others.
He emphasized that it was neither a state funeral nor a ceremony involving state honors.
“My son was there because he wanted to go. It was a private visit. He is not an official of my country. I love him very much, but that was his choice,” Vučić said.
He added that neither he nor the Serbian prime minister attended the funeral.
Vučić questions turnout at Mladić funeral
Vučić said the large number of people attending the funeral was the more significant issue, describing it as the largest funeral in Serbia in decades.
He questioned whether those who attended should necessarily be viewed as supporters of Mladić or as people who endorsed his crimes.
“Do you really believe that these people are monsters, killers, to use all those terms? No,” Vučić said.
He argued that many attendees were motivated by their perceptions of injustices committed against Serbs over the past several decades.
CNN host Fareed Zakaria suggested that the large turnout could instead reflect growing nationalism in Serbia and argued that politicians such as Vučić had contributed to that trend.
Vučić rejected the characterization.
He recalled his attendance at the 20th anniversary commemoration of the Srebrenica genocide, saying he had bowed his head there and was nearly attacked.
“I will always be able to bow my head before the memorial or say how sorry we are,” Vučić said, referring to the killing of Bosniaks in Srebrenica.
Vučić rejects comparison with Putin
Zakaria also asked whether Vučić’s move from the presidency toward a potential premiership represented a form of creeping authoritarianism similar to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s political trajectory.
Vučić rejected the comparison and said Serbia would maintain peace and stability in the region.
He also emphasized the importance of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia.
“I am a democrat and I would always like to hear and see what people think. Without legitimacy, I would be nobody,” Vučić said.
He added that the election campaign would be difficult and said he would congratulate his opponents on election night if they won.
“That is how democracy works,” Vučić concluded.
