28.08.2020.
Minister Vulin: Belgrade becomes what it must and should be – a capital of all the Serbs
Asked to comment on the erection of monument to Stefan Nemanja in Belgrade, Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin in his appearance in breakfast television programme of “Pink” television explained that the question was not why we erected the monument to Stefan Nemanja at that moment, but why we had waited all that time for Aleksandar Vučić to come to power so that the monument to the founder of Serbian state would be erected.
- Is it possible that no one before him, through all those centuries, could not and should not do it? Of course they could and should have done it. The thing that particularly provokes contempt is when you listed to those who were in power for 12 years in this country and did not think of erecting the monument to Stefan Nemanja. Now it is bad that the monument is here – Minister Vulin stresses and adds that the essential problem with that monument and everything that Aleksandar Vučić does and creates lies in the fact that Belgrade is becoming a capital of all the Serbs.
- Stefan Nemanja gathers all the Serbs wherever they live. Belgrade is becoming something that it must and should be – a capital of all the Serbs. That bothers them. Those who oppose the erection of the monument to Stefan Nemanja are disturbed by the idea that all Serbs are united by something, that they are all together and that they make a unified political nation. The Serbs do not live in the same state, but there is no reason why we should not be a unified political nation when it comes to the most important national interests – Minister Vulin explained.
The monument to Stefan Nemanja is a symbolical message which states that Belgrade is greater, more powerful and better than it used to be, and that we will be greater, more powerful and better than we are – stresses Minister Vulin reminding that every move made by Aleksandar Vučić is directed towards raising awareness that the Serbian people is special, important and successful and that it was attacked, just like everything that bears the prefix “national”. The reason for it, as Minister Vulin explains, is that we have been for decades raised to feel hatred towards our own people.
- Now, a beautiful square is being built and the monument will be there, dedicated not only to Stefan Nemanja, but to our statehood and our existence. That monument is one of the proofs that this generation knows its origins, it knows where we come from, and how long our journey has lasted. Why everything that Aleksandar Vučić initiates and does has to be subjected to attacks? It is because those are all clues for the future – Minister Vulin explains adding that despite all attacks, Aleksandar Vučić is understood and the silent majority that is the future of Serbia comprehends him, and those are serious people who work hard and recognise when someone makes effort for them.
Asked to give his opinion on attacks on the idea of constructing a national stadium in Belgrade, the minister of defence reminded of a football match between Red Star which had taken place several days before on national stadium in Tirana and asked why Tirana can have a national stadium but Belgrade cannot.
- I feel bad that we do not have it in Belgrade. Aleksandar Vučić says that we will make a national stadium in Belgrade and immediately all-round assaults on him ensue. Tirana, which cannot be compared to Belgrade, has a national stadium, but Belgrade must not have it. Why anything with prefix “national”, anything that defines our history, and us, has to be attacked and smeared. It is because we are raised to hate our own people, because Aleksandar Vučić is a statesman who after decades and decades said that it was enough. But it is nice to be a Serbian, it fills you pride to be a Serbian – stated minister of defence and sent a message that it is good to have a national stadium because it is the “landmark of a state, sign of duration, and a sign of existence”.
