German Chancellor Angela Merkel was aware of the official Belgrade discontent against the west, due to the fact that neither Berlin nor Paris “pressed” Pristina strongly enough to revoke the tariffs it imposed on the goods from Serbia, Danas daily reports referring to diplomatic sources.

That is why Chancellor Merkel tried to mitigate the situation and somehow encourage Serbia, the daily adds, commenting on the praise for Serbia that German Chancellor expressed during the meeting in Poznan last week. During the summit, Merkel noted that Western Balkans region “progressed well” in the field of economic development, praising Serbia in particular. “I do not want to single out anyone, but Serbia achieved very positive development,” Merkel was quoted as saying.

According to diplomatic sources, the daily continues, by such rhetoric Merkel has sent “an important symbolic signal to Serbia to continue implementing reforms, but her message will have no practical significance, given a stalemate in the negotiations with Kosovo, and “powerless of Germany to influence Kosovo government to revoke the tariffs.”

Former Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official and current deputy leader of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) told Danas daily the praise of Angela Merkel “only confirms that even German Chancellor can fall a victim of fake news and propaganda.”

“On the other hand why would Berlin study in details the accuracy of the data our regime presents if Germany has a solid, and unfortunately, stable inflow of our population, that is leaving Serbia in pursue for a better life, which exists here in the regime tabloids only. I feel sorry because Germany does not know that Serbia has the lowest GDP in the region, the decline in industrial production, lowest salaries and pensions as well as endemic corruption and crime,” Stefanovic underlined.

Bojan Pajtic, former president of the opposition Democratic Party (DS) said ironically that “following this statement Serbia can expect the inflow of German workers and graduated students coming to Serbia.”

He also noted similar reasons as Stefanovic mentioned that suit Germany, in particular inflow of qualified labour force and if one would calculate the price of education Germany practically received donations from Serbia valued several million of euros, Serbian medical professionals, doctors and nurses would treat Germans, while Serbs would, according to Pajtic, be treated by fortune tellers, Danas daily reported.