Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday he never had any secret dinner with Hashim Thaci, as representatives of Alliance for Serbia claimed, Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti reported.

Asked to comment allegations that he had secret meetings with Hashim Thaci, Vucic said they did not have secret meetings. “We were in Vienna with Sebastian Kurz. We are not making an event out of it, Sebastian showed photos. Mogherini organized receptions in New York for us. What am I supposed to do?” Vucic said.

He added his job is to negotiate, talk and preserve peace.

Opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and other initiators of an Appeal for Defense of Kosovo and Metohija called on citizens to gather in Belgrade on Monday, 18 February and show they oppose “high-treason” and attempts of the current authorities “to delineate Serbia with itself,” Danas daily reported.

As DSS announced the gathering would take place in the center of Belgrade, in front of the National Assembly, from where the citizens would walk to the Presidency building, where speeches would be held.

President Aleksandar Vucic has presented about 60 state decorations to deserving individuals and institutions on Sretenje, Serbia's Statehood Day.

The ceremony in the Presidency was attended by ministers Ivica Dacic, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Zlatibor Loncar, Aleksandar Vulin, Vladan Vukosavljevivic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, who is among the recipients.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic is today taking part in the ceremonies in Orasac, central Serbia.

Serbia is today celebrating Statehood Day - known also as Sretenje, as it coincides with the Orthodox feast of Sretenje (Candlemas). On this day in 1804, the Serbs, led by Djordje "Karadjordje" Petrovic, decided to start the First Uprising against occupying Ottoman Turks.

On the same day in 1835, the first constitution of the modern Serbian state was adopted in the town of Kragujevac. President Aleksandar Vucic is this Friday presenting state decorations to deserving individuals and institutions.

As long as USA and the EU are not ready to concretely punish Kosovo Albanians, by cutting financial support for example, they will not give up on the current attitude, former US Ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery said, Tanjug news agency reported.

“What I am asking are not words or demarche, but rather concrete steps, such as the abolishment of financial support,” Montgomery said.

Serbia is making big strides forward in developing its economy, President Aleksadar Vucic said on Thursday in Bogatic, in the west of the country. Vucic is touring this area as he continues his “Future of Serbia" campaign, started last week.

"Regardless of how terrible our position was a few years ago, as we were on the verge, over the abyss of bankruptcy, now the situation is better in the state coffers and we have higher salaries and pensions," Vucic said.

German Ambassador to Serbia, Thomas Schieb said his country together with the European and American partners is explicitly advocating for normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo. He also expressed hope the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue would continue soon and that the 2019 would be a year of good news, BETA agency reports.

Ambassador Schieb stressed that only dialogue can lead to a comprehensive, legally binding agreement which is a prerequisite for the EU membership.

Serbian National Assembly Committee for Kosovo and Metohija Chairman Milovan Drecun said he believes a way would be found to abolish tariffs Pristina imposed on the goods from Serbia, BETA news agency reports.

He added Kosovo Prime Minister Haradinaj and President Thaci need to “find an exit strategy” from a situation they brought themselves in, otherwise they risk losing support of “the sponsors of Kosovo independence.”

Preserving and protecting territorial integrity, EU integration, and better cooperation with countries around the world are Serbia's main foreign policy goals. First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said this on Wednesday in Belgrade, and pointed out that Serbia has strengthened its position on the international scene.

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Marko Djuric met with Korean Ambassador to Serbia Hyoung-chan Choe and said Pristina with a series of unilateral acts in the recent months jeopardized stability on the ground, built over the years and endangered basic human rights of the Serb population in Kosovo, Danas daily reported.