Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Vučić: Serbian authorities ought to take part in the investigation of Ivanović’s assassination

The President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated today that he is not authorized to talk about information pertaining to the assassination of Oliver Ivanović, which informative services possess. However, he noted that “there are numerous interesting details which point to the possible perpetrators”.

Vučić said that we submitted letters to both EULEX and UNMIK, requesting for state authorities of Serbia to take part in the investigations in Kosovo and Metohija pertaining to the assassination of Oliver Ivanović.

“We are sure that the participation of the state authorities of Serbia would imply discovering the truth about the assassination of Oliver Ivanović”, Vučić declared after the National Security Council session.

He stated that Serbia would take all necessary measures in order to find the killer, or killers, adding that he promised the same thing to Oliver Ivanović’s wife this morning.

He underlined that he is not authorized to talk about information, which informative services possess – but, as he noted, “there are numerous interesting details which point to the possible perpetrators”.

This crime, as he said, did not occur in the territory effectively controlled by the state of Serbia, meaning that we must wait for the reactions of other authorities. Nonetheless, we expect that they will conduct their duties professionally, which he also requested from Federica Mogherini and other representatives of the international community.

“The man who was killed was a parent, a husband, a man who never called for conflict between Serbs and Albanians. No matter political differences, I personally extend my condolences to the Ivanović’s family and all Serbs. This was an attack aimed at the Ivanović family, the north of Kosovo and the Serbs, in general”, Vučić stressed.

President Vučić reiterated that Belgrade has no confidence in Kosovo authorities, but he nonetheless expressed that he hopes everyone will be able to conduct an efficient investigation, and if they couldn’t – Serbia will certainly do it.

Recalling that the assassination took place in the territory wherein Serbia does not have the effective power, especially after 2008, Vučić stated:

“It is not that we have the highest possible confidence in authorities – we don’t, but we can hope. If they are not able to do it, we are asking them to call our authorities and accept our assistance. Because, we are the ones who are saying – we will discover who they (the assassins) are”, Vučić declared.

“I think this can function normally. I am almost certain that this was a gross act which can go uninvestigated and without finding the guilty party”, Vučić stated and added that a perfect crime does not exist, and that this was far from it.

He added that he doesn’t wish to speak about who would benefit from the assassination of Oliver Ivanovic.

“I don’t want to talk about that yet. We have initial indications, but I won’t speak about it until competent authorities speak”, the President of Serbia told reporters.

“And who would benefit from it? I think it’s all clear to everyone… who would benefit from it in Kosovo, in the international community, who wouldn’t benefit from it in Kosovo, and who would or woudn’t benefit from it in Belgrade…”, Vučić said while answering the reporter’s question wheter the assassination has interethnic character or was it commitet by someone with a Serbian name.

He added that he will not speak about this anymore, but that “everythign should be clear to anyone who graduated even only from first grade of primary school and everyone understands everything”.

“Let’s just wait and see… But whoever committed the murder will be found”, he said.

In his address to reporters after the National Security Council session, the President of Serbia stated that a country that is a part of KFOR has ideas of aborting control of the administrative line.

He expressed hope that the assassination of Ivanović will not be abused for the realization of some of their ideas.

“My warning today is that they shouldn’t try to bring in the Kosovo security forces, not in the north, not in Kosovo in general”, Vučić said.

President Vučić called on the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija to preserve peace and poise, and said that the killer will be found and punished.

“I talked to the President of the Serbian List, Goran Rakić, and the atmosphere is very difficult and bad, and my message is to preserve peace and poise, and we will find the killers, if those who are supposed to do it don’t do it”, Vučić said at a press conference after the Nacional Security Council session.

“Be sure we will do that”, Vučić said.

Commenting threats by individuals that Albanians will reach Niš, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić said that “they can come for a cup of coffee, to see the nice city where so many factories have been opened, but otherwise they will not be able to come”.

“I invite all Albanians to come for a cup of coffee in Niš, to have a good time, to see what a nice European city looks like, where there are more and more factories”, Vučić said.

He added that what can be seen in Niš, cannot be seen in Kosovo and Metohija, so many newly opened factories in one city.

“They cannot come to Niš in any other way. Regardless of who they are with, they will not be able to see Niš in any other way”, Vučić concluded.

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