First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Ivica Dacic stated today that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had established the Crisis Response Staff to collect humanitarian relief for the population affected by floods that hit the country.

"Also, we instructed all our diplomatic and consular missions in foreign countries to be available at all times, and that our Ambassadors make statements in all international media as well as request that they be received by the competent authorities in their countries of accreditation", said Dacic on Pink Television.

As he said, a note was sent to all foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations in Serbia, and that all associations of Serbian diaspora worldwide were also informed.

Dacic has asked all foreign organizations and individuals who want to send assistance to do so through the diplomatic missions of Serbia, which will serve as intermediaries in the distribution of humanitarian aid.

"Today, I was told that some people in Japan want to provide blankets. This will serve no purpose. Thank you, everyone, but by the time the blankets arrive here, it'll be far greater cost than benefit. On the other hand, there are those who are sending assistance by themselves, and then such assistance gets stuck at the airport because the Customs is not aware of it", said the Foreign Minister.

He said that what Serbia needed the most was assistance in specialized equipment and machinery, such as aluminum motor boats, helicopters, tents, and personnel in the form of professional rescue teams.

Dacic said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Vesna Pusic, contacted him and suggested that her country and Serbia applied together for assistance from the European Union to recover from the effects of flooding. "They have already done it a few times and have experience with it. This is the next phase that we expect", he said.

Asked to estimate the damage, Dacic said that in comparison to the drought that struck during his Prime Minister-ship when the damage was between one and two billion euro, Serbia would now need assistance from the EU, UN and all friendly countries, combined.

As he put it, this natural disaster has demonstrated the value of the Serbian-Russian humanitarian center based in Nis.

"The EU objected as to why we entered into such arrangements with Russia, what our regional responsibilities imply... We have no ambition to carry out any activities in the region without the consent of other countries, but when such a situation arises, the importance of such a center becomes apparent", said Dacic.