Vucic Awards Congresswoman Tenney: Trump Told Me He Hopes to Visit Serbia

She said that on Tuesday evening, while she was sitting in a restaurant, her phone rang—and it was Donald Trump.

"He was talking to me about something else and then asked, ‘Where are you?’ I told him I was in Serbia, and now I’m quoting him: ‘I really like Serbia. Send them my regards and say I hope to visit one day, hopefully now when the new ambassador arrives,’" Tenney recalled after receiving the award from Vucic.

She expressed joy at returning to Serbia after nearly 40 years and seeing many positive changes.

"Thank you to everyone in Serbia, to President Vucic, for the great changes we notice compared to 40 years ago—starting from the airport to the beautiful buildings and everything that didn’t exist before," said the congresswoman.

Foto: Tanjug/Jadranka Ilić

She explained that she first came to Belgrade in 1981 as a student and once worked at the former Yugoslav consulate in New York.

"I worked for the former Yugoslav consulate in New York, as well as for the sports section, covering the Sarajevo Olympics. I have a connection with all the people from the former Yugoslavia. Part of my job at the consulate was to take care of everyone coming from Yugoslavia in a sports context," Tenney said.

President Vucic stated that Serbia can proudly note that the positive momentum in U.S.-Serbian relations is opening up new opportunities and strategic dialogue.

"This is particularly true since the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States," Vucic said at the Serbian Presidency.

He emphasized that Serbia greatly values U.S. support on its path to the EU, as well as contributions to the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina through dialogue and an understanding of the need to respect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

"We highly appreciate U.S. support for our path toward full EU membership, which is one of Serbia’s strategic goals. Equally important is your continued support for stability, peace, and security in the Western Balkans region, and your contribution to the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina, despite our differences on this important issue," Vucic said.

He especially thanked Congresswoman Tenney for her outstanding contribution to improving Serbia-U.S. relations through her strong advocacy in Congress and as co-chair of the Serbian Caucus.

A Century and a Half of Diplomatic Relations

Vucic reminded everyone of the nearly 150-year-long diplomatic relationship between the two countries, dating back to 1881.

"Given the longevity and historical alliance, we are committed to strengthening these ties in the future. Our countries’ cooperation has been marked by a shared struggle for common values in challenging times. During global conflicts, we stood side by side on the right side of history. A vivid example of courage and dedication is the rescue of American pilots in the village of Pranjani during Operation Halyard, one of the most successful rescue missions of World War II, whose 80th anniversary we jointly commemorated last year," Vucic said.

He noted that regular dialogue with U.S. Congress members, including the Serbian Caucus founded in 2004 and now co-chaired by Tenney, is an important part of bilateral relations.

He also mentioned that Serbia’s National Assembly consistently includes a large Friendship Group with the United States.

Vucic emphasized that bilateral cooperation is steadily improving but still does not match its full potential, which calls for additional efforts to achieve common goals.

"Our sincere wish and effort is to continue enhancing bilateral relations based on shared values and to build a partnership in the spirit of mutual trust and respect," Vucic stressed.

He added that true friends support each other and expressed Serbia’s gratitude to Congresswoman Tenney, acknowledging her efforts.

"Ms. Tenney was with us during some of the most difficult moments for our country. She was one of the few willing to talk to us when almost no one else was, one of the few who didn’t shy away from dialogue even when we faced unpleasant resolutions at the UN," Vucic said.

He noted that Tenney, despite facing numerous pressures, has always preserved and nurtured her friendship with Serbia.

"We are endlessly grateful to you. We hope that you will always feel at home here in Serbia—not just because of your past and the time you spent in Yugoslavia, but because of the friendship you’ve shown. Thank you for everything you’ve done for our friendship," Vucic concluded.

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