18.11.2021.
Minister Stefanović: They cannot forgive Vučić for the fact that Serbia is more successful than Croatia today
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD:
“Although the "Danas" daily has published an interview with Jadranka Kosor, signing her as the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, it is quite clear that she is saying what the Croatian authorities think, not only about Aleksandar Vučić as the President of Serbia but also about Serbia itself. Kosor completely exposes the essence of Croatia's policy towards Serbia, which comes down to the fact that, just as she herself says, Croatia was content with Serbia only when the latter was weak, when it apologized for everything, even for the things it was not responsible or guilty of, and when it was incomparably weaker than Croatia in economic, political and even military terms.
It is also quite clear why such a Serbia suited them. Because it could not attract investors and compete with Croatia, much less catch up with it or get the better of it the way it can today. Serbia, which is now a champion in this part of Europe in terms of attracting investment, economic growth, vaccination, construction of hospitals and road infrastructure and development, Serbia whose president is recognized worldwide as a regional leader, because he does not advocate regional cooperation in a merely declaratory manner but implements it in reality, and Serbia, whose political reputation in the international community, under the leadership of Vučić, is growing steadily, continuously and persistently year by year, is not to Croatia’s taste, nor will it ever be. Such "well-meaning" people no longer praise Serbia or pat it on the shoulder. However, Serbia suits its own people perfectly.
Speaking about a country’s own people, I would like to note that even today, Croatia tries in every possible way to escape from the crimes committed by its Ustasha. However, it is often proud of them and glorifies them. We are talking about the only country in Europe that used to have special concentration camps for children in the Second World War. Not even Nazi Germany, to which Croatia was a vassal state, had them. We are also talking about a country that expelled more than 250,000 Serbs, its own citizens, from their centuries-old homes during Operation "Storm" because they did not fit into the image of an ethnically clean Croatia. A country that never had a leadership ready to face its own crimes. Such a country is teaching Serbia lessons today.
First of all, they cannot forgive the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for the fact that Serbia is more successful than Croatia today. I am under no illusions that these are European Union issues or some lessons in democracy or anything like that. This is pure envy, because today Serbia can do better than Croatia. And it is obvious that Jadranka Kosor and the like speak on behalf of the Croatian Establishment, when it will not speak for itself. Also, I am not surprised that these poison darts are being fired now, when Serbia continues to strengthen and prosper economically, nor am I surprised that they were published in Đilas's paper. Since Đilas and the rest of the opposition are not allowed to personally attack Vučić and their people on the topics mentioned by Kosor, because they know that the Serbian people would not approve of that, they are glad that their friends from the region are doing so. Especially since for years they have not offered the citizens of our country any programme or plan that would guarantee a better life. It all comes down to pure hatred.
Unlike them, Aleksandar Vučić is a statesman who will continue pursuing the policy of building a better life for the citizens of Serbia and the country that knows how to defend its dignity and the interests of its people, but also to cooperate and rejoice in the progress of all our neighbours in the region."
