PM Macut slams university rector’s decision as “unacceptable” and “unacademic”

In a written statement, Macut stressed that communication within the academic community “shouldn’t play out through media statements but in a spirit of collegiality and mutual understanding.”

He noted that talks on the issue began on Tuesday, with an agreement to continue them.

“To my great disappointment, instead of continuing the dialogue, I received—through the media—a statement that does not reflect the content of our conversation, along with a cancellation of the meetings that had been scheduled for today. I find this manner of communication completely unacceptable and unacademic, where discussions that have only just begun are portrayed to the public as failed, and personally agreed meetings are cancelled,” the Serbian Government quoted the prime minister as saying.

Macut emphasized that, in spite of this, he would still consider it a “great honor” to engage in discussions with academic community representatives.

“I hope the University of Belgrade will show a willingness to engage in dialogue without stipulating conditions,” he added.

The talks between the prime minister and the rector, which began on Tuesday, were set to continue on Wednesday. However, Rector Djokic announced he couldn’t attend the meeting, citing a summons from the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to provide information regarding a second criminal complaint filed against him by student Milos Pavlovic, alleging discrimination.

The First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office later clarified that no interrogation with Dokic had been scheduled or planned. Instead, it had sent a request to the University of Belgrade’s Rectorate for information related to the criminal complaint filed by Pavlovic and several others.