Vučić: We need more German investments

Vučić: We need more German investments

BELGRADE -- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić called on German investors Sunday to increase their investment in Serbia.

"We need more German investment in the automotive and agricultural industry," Vučić told German news magazine Focus, ahead of the Conference of Western Balkan States to be held Thursday in Berlin at the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to the prime minister, the government of Serbia expects Merkel to help maintain the political and economic stability in the Western Balkans.

Regarding the conflict between Russia and the Western countries over the Ukrainian crisis, Vučić said that Russia's leaders know that Serbia is on the EU path.

He reiterated that Serbia respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine, meaning that it considers Crimea to be a part of this country.

At the same time, the prime minister stressed that Serbia cannot join in the economic sanctions against Russia, due to the crisis it is facing.

We are dependent on the Russian gas, and our biggest taxpayer NIS is now majority-owned by a Russian company, Vučić explained.

Commenting on the agreement on the construction of South Stream pipeline, intended to connect Europe to Russia's gas supplies, Vučić said that it is a good deal for Serbia.

However, the project depends on the relations between Russia and the EU. The pipeline cannot be built without the approval of our European partners, underlined Vučić.

The prime minister noted that, based on the agreement, Serbian companies engaged in the pipeline construction would earn around EUR 500 million.