VOA: Serbia opposition expects support for democracy; Vucic mocks talks

"We came to talk to representatives of the world's largest power and express our views on everything that is happening in Serbia," he said after meeting Gabriel Escobar, US Special Representative for the Western Balkans on Thursday.
However, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic described later on Friday the talks with the US officials, including the anti-corruption fight, as it was  "like if Al Capone became a priest and started bringing people to the confessional to atone their sins. That is how it is when Djilas talks about the fight against corruption and crime."

He did not refer to a part regarding democracy in Serbia.

Djilas told VOA it was up to people in Serbia to change the government in their country, but that his party expected the states which supported democracy to back "European standards".

He refused to confirm his party participation in the 2022 elections or who might be a possible candidate of the opposition bloc for the country's president. Still, he was optimistic about the opposition's chances of winning the vote in Belgrade and even defeating President Aleksandar Vucic.

"I believe there will be a change. If we decide to participate, I am sure we will win in Belgrade and that the results of the parliamentary elections will be much different than many today in Serbia and the world think. And I am sure that the right candidate has chances to beat Aleksandar Vucic in the presidential elections," Djilas said.

Asked about the constant attack on him coming from Vucic, his party officials and tabloids they control, Djilas said he never talked about his safety.

"People in Serbia know that I have 321 front pages in 365 days, that I have been on televisions for hours. I told Escobar that Vucic has been on television for hours, but so have I, with everything being negative about me and everything positive about him. However, I don't think that's the point. The essence is to create a country where everyone can freely express their opinion, and they will not end up on the front pages as a criminal, a paedophile," he said.

Speaking about his party's stand regarding Kosovo, Djilas said that "Kosovo Albanians want to be an independent state; we believe that it is part of Serbia's territory. Okay, we can't agree on that, but we can agree on some other things for people to have a better life."