Vucic: Grenell decorated for contributing to Serbia's progress

KRAGUJEVAC - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday former US official Richard Grenell deserved a Serbian state honour for his contribution to Serbia's progress.

Vucic was speaking to reporters before a Statehood Day ceremony in Kragujevac, central Serbia.

In response to an N1 query whether the Serbian government was paying Grenell for lobbying and what his merits were, Vucic said he did not believe Grenell was receiving money from the government, but that he did not know because he was not in the government.

"But I do know that you were deceiving the public when you were saying that I was paying Blair, Schroeder, Gusenbauer, the Clintons, etc. You have deceived the public countless times, so I believe you are doing it again. This has nothing to do with a government decision, but with a decision I have made," he said.

Grenell is one of the people who have been trying to have a balanced approach, which is enormously important for Serbia when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, Vucic said.

"Does he think differently than the US administration? Not entirely, but he has always been ready to hear out the Serbian side and he has been one of the people with the idea that US investments and investment funds should come to our country," Vucic noted.

Everywhere, Grenell has been an advocate of peace and of Serbia's voice being heard, Vucic added.