Vucic: Number of migrants down by 80 pct compared to 2023

KOMARNO - Serbia will continue to cooperate with Slovakia and Hungary and work together with them on curbing illegal migration, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Komarno, Slovakia, after a trilateral meeting with Slovak and Hungarian PMs Robert Fico and Viktor Orban.

"We have achieved results by working together. It has not been simple, but this year, the number of migrants is 80 pct down compared to last year. We will continue to work together and I believe the results will be good. There are just 477 migrants at reception centres in the Republic of Serbia at this time. We will, of course, continue to do our job in the interest of Europe and our friends, our brothers in Hungary and Slovakia," Vucic said at a press conference with Fico and Orban.

He said they had discussed many topics.

"But before I say a few words about that, I want to note my personal happiness and pleasure to see Robert (Fico) in such good condition. May 15, the day of the criminal attempt to kill Robert Fico, was a very difficult day for us and this is not about my personal relationship with Robert, but about how entire Serbia felt on that day," Vucic noted.

He said he had a problem with the fact that many in Europe and worldwide were pretending the assassination attempt had not taken place at all.

"That is why we await with great attention the results of the investigation by the Slovak state because we are completely convinced it could not have been an act of an individual acting alone, but a result of a general atmosphere and all-out, coordinated attacks on PM Robert Fico. While I do not want to interfere in Slovakia's internal affairs in any way, I just want to say:

Dear Robert, we wish you good health and good form, and that you may work in the interest of your country, your family and your people for a long time to come, and I believe that will be good for all your friends as well," Vucic said.

He said the meeting with Fico and Orban had also addressed all other important affairs.

"I look forward to our bilateral meetings that will be held in Belgrade soon, and I am always ready and I consider this format of trilateral meetings of our three countries as very important and very good," Vucic said.

Vucic also noted that he and the two PMs had a slightly differing view on the war in Ukraine.

"At least we dare to speak and utter the word 'peace' because, in Europe and the world today, you can speak only about victory of one side over the other, rather than about how vital peace is to us," he said.

He also thanked Slovakia and Hungary for backing Serbia on its EU accession path.