Vucic from Davos: The World Is Heading in a Crazy Direction, We Must Preserve Peace

Vucic said that in Davos he listened attentively to the speeches of the Chinese Vice Premier and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the ‘political divorce’ between America and the Union is permanent. She used three words when speaking about sanctions, which she described as a major mistake. She said the response would be proportional, resolute, and united. Tomorrow we will hear Donald Trump’s response," the president stressed.

He said he expects a very strong speech by Trump, in the opposite direction from what was heard from European leaders.

"That game of tariffs and day-to-day decision-making is not good, as the Chinese Vice Premier also said. We are slowly but surely entering a phase of daily decision-making, and in such circumstances you cannot plan anything," the Serbian president said.

FOTO: Tanjug/World economic forum/Pascal Bitz

According to him, the world is heading in a crazy direction, and Serbia must preserve peace.

"Everything is not moving in a good direction for the world as a whole. We must preserve peace and stability, but also a fast-growing economy," Vucic said.

"A cleverly written speech"

After the speech by the head of the European Commission, Vucic said he had already begun discussing and analyzing what von der Leyen conveyed at the opening, as he put it, with one of the most important figures in global political analysis, American analyst Ian Bremmer.

"It seems to me that we share 80 to 90 percent of the views and positions expressed in her speech, as well as regarding the consequences of what the EC president said. If you ask me, someone cleverly put that speech together, but a cleverly written speech has nothing to do with the consequences and with everything that will follow," the president emphasized.

He added that he followed her speech carefully and took notes because, as he said, without doing so he would not have been able to remember all the important points of vital interest to Serbia and its citizens.

As he noted, von der Leyen used three words when speaking about sanctions, or rather tariffs, imposed by the United States, which she described as a major mistake.

"She said their response would be proportional, resolute – I believe she used that word, if I'm not mistaken – and third, that they would be united in that response as the European Union. This opens up numerous other questions. She spoke about opposing such policies through new free trade agreements, such as the EU–Mercosur agreement, that is, with South America, about trying to expand these agreements and work on extending them to Mexico, as well as with Indonesia, the Philippines, the Emirates, and of course the 'mother of all agreements' expected to be concluded next week in India – a free trade agreement," Vucic pointed out.

"I expect a strong speech by Trump"

He added that this would give the European Union access to a huge market of more than one and a half billion people, as well as new opportunities to develop its technology, including through cooperation with India and attracting those who are ahead, even though she emphasized the existence of three unicorn companies from the European Union, the United States, and China.

"What are the consequences for us? She also spoke, of course, about the advancement of the defense industry, massive investments, major investments in energy, and what all of this means for us," Vucic said.

FOTO: Tanjug/World economic forum/Pascal Bitz

As he stated, he expects a very strong speech by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, in the opposite direction from what we heard today.

There will also be spillover effects for all of us, the president stressed.

He also said that he spoke with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and that she is always helpful to Serbia.

"I must be honest – she is from Bulgaria, of course, works in Washington, and is always ready to help. At the beginning of February we will have an important conversation with her to assist us with additional projections. She believes that an agreement between Europe and America will not be reached tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. That is, I cannot say she believes it won’t happen – she hopes it will, but she is not sure it will be reached, and I do not believe it will," Vucic said.

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