Victory in the USA/ Vucic and Dodik congratulate Donald Trump

2024-11-06 09:18:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has congratulated Republican Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential race - a victory that has yet to be confirmed.

"Congratulations Donald Trump on your victory. Together, we face the serious challenges ahead. Serbia is committed to working with the US for stability, growth and peace," Vucic wrote on X.

Although Trump's victory has not yet been confirmed, he appears to be close to winning after securing key states such as Pennsylvania and North Carolina and leading in four others, according to the Edison Research poll.

Trump himself announced the victory in a speech to his supporters in Florida.

Trump's victory was also welcomed by the pro-Russian president of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, who is on the US blacklist.

"One of the most important electoral victories in recent US and world history," Dodik wrote in X.

During the years that the American administration has been led by Democratic President Joe Biden, Serbia and its political leaders have continued to maintain close relations with the former American envoy for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina during the administration of former President Donald Trump, Richard Grenell.

The President of Serbia presented him with a state decoration in October 2023 and on that occasion assessed that Grenell's role in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina "has not only contributed to regional peace and stability, but has also played a key role in strengthening of relations between the USA and Serbia".

Grenell is still active in Trump's presidential campaign.

Meanwhile, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has invested in the former General Staff building in Belgrade.

Serbia has signed a contract with Kushner's firm for the "revitalization" of the General Staff complex in downtown Belgrade, which was partially destroyed during NATO bombing in 1999.

On the site of the ruins from the bombing, the construction of two high-rise buildings with apartments and hotels is planned, although this object, built between 1955 and 1965, has not been removed from the protection status as a cultural asset.

Many observers of the Balkans have seen the agreement with Kushner as Serbia's preparation for Trump's possible return to the White House.

However, Vucic, in an interview with the British newspaper *Financial Times*, said that the agreement is simply a "business venture".

"My friend [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor [Orbán] is 100 percent on Trump's side. My friends from Brussels are 100 percent on [current US President Joe] Biden's side. I'm not. I'm on the Serbian side waiting for the results," Vucic told the Financial Times./REL