President Aleksandar Vučić received children of Serb nationality from the region today, and told them that Serbia was their country, their own territory where they would always be welcomed by love, wherever they came from.

Vučić received the children who came to the capital of Serbia from Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and prepared appropriate presents for them, but they also brought a smile to his face by offering him their present – an icon of the Mother of God.

Quoting the famous Mika Antić, who wrote the verse ‘in order to truly love, you have to grow up to become a child’, that wise and admonishing verse from the poem Love, Vučić said that he felt the need to apologize on behalf of all adults, because no challenge children were facing was of their making or deserving.

– Not all of us adults in the world have grown up to become children. You did not create or deserve any of the challenges before you; rather, you inherited them from us adults who are nonetheless not equal to everything. No child has ever started a war, crashed a stock exchange, or left anyone on the street, without a home, parents or children – said Vučić.

He said that the generation of adults owed an apology for everything that was happening, for a generation of children growing up in fear of war, food shortage, nuclear catastrophe.

– Do not confront your children with the horrors we made you confront – he added.

He said that today Serbia was an oasis of peace, stability and love, adding that he could say so in this decadent and heated world reigned by hysteria and hatred.

– Love is always on the mind, it is like strength – the more you use it, the more you will have it. Cultivate love; love your parents, friends, the Serbian people. Love your house Belgrade, and your home Serbia. Here you are on your own land, love will always welcome you here, wherever you come from – Vučić told them.

He also thanked their teachers, who, according to him, taught them the Serbian language and culture, to love Serbia, and there was nothing more important than that.

– Without you, it is questionable how much these wonderful children would know and understand about who they are, and where they are from, and what their roots are, and where they are always welcome – said Vučić.

The President thanked them for coming and asked if they had ever seen a more beautiful temple than the Temple of St. Sava, to which they shook their heads, much to his approval, because, according to him, there was no such a beautiful, large, monumental temple in the world.

On behalf of the children from the region, Jovana from Mostar thanked the President for the reception, saying that with eight other children, she had come from the Prosvjeta School in Mostar, according to her, the most beautiful city in the south of BiH.

She pointed out that with her she had children from Vukovar, Kumanovo, Stari Nagorišan, Koper, and that everyone was happy to be in Serbia, to have the opportunity to spend time together during the five-day camp, but above all to visit Serbian landmarks.

– We come from different parts and everyone has a specific story, but we all have a shared love for Serbia and our people, and a strong desire to preserve our identity – Jovana said.

She thanked the President for everything he had been doing to make Serbia a strong support for Serbs in the region, and expressed special appreciation for the support to Serbs in Mostar, assistance in rebuilding the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, which was a symbol of the identity of Mostar Serbs.

She expressed the desire for the Serbian President to visit Mostar, the Prosvjeta School and many other places, and finally wished him a happy birthday and a lot of personal and family success, but above all a lot of success for Serbia.

Vučić asked the organizers to take the children somewhere to have fun, and said that he had several suggestions.

– Did you like better Novi Sad or Belgrade? – he asked the children who answered – Belgrade.

– You see, I have always said so. If one were to look at it objectively, Novi Sad is more beautiful architecturally than Belgrade, but with its development and money, a huge difference, Belgrade beats Novi Sad and everything else – Vučić noted.

Source: RTRS-TANJUG

Photo: Tanjug/Rade Prelić