"Insulted, not humiliated" - how Serbia faired in France (TV Pink, Tanjug, B92, BETA)
Serbia has not been humiliated, but it is insulted by the seating arrangement during a ceremony in Paris to mark 100 years since the end of WW1, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin said on Wednesday, referring to the scandal that occurred on Sunday.
Vulin told TV Pink that "neither Serbia nor President Aleksandar Vucic had been humiliated, but they have been insulted."
Vulin added that "many French have also been hurt, something that is evident in the reports in their media," which, according to him, are saying that "a terrible mistake has been made, and an ally insulted."
"I support what President Vucic has done - well, was he supposed to let Thaci chase him away from the celebration? Was he supposed not to be present at the place where the victory of our great-grandfathers', not Thaci's, was being marked - because of Thaci?," Vulin asked.
He added that Vucic would have found it "easiest to get up and say what he thinks" - but that instead he "acted like a statesman."
Speaking about a photo Thaci took with Russian leader Vladimir Putin while in Paris, Vulin said that one can "intercept and approach anyone" during this type of gathering.
"Russia is our great ally, our friend who will firmly stick by all agreements when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija. Thaci can intercept anyone he likes in corridors, but that doesn't mean anything is happening or changing. President Putin is visiting Belgrade in January," Vulin concluded.