SERBIA

TRUMP IN LETTER TO VUCIC: AGREEMENT WITHIN REACH

BELGRADE, December 20 2018 (Beta) - In his letter to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote that an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo was "within reach." In the letter, dated Dec. 14, which the Serbian president's office made public on Dec. 20, Trump wrote that he was looking forward to hosting the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci, in the White House, to celebrate "a historic agreement." As you enter the final phase of reaching an agreement with Kosovo that will bring long-sought peace to the region, I encourage you to seize this moment and to exercise the political leadership in making the decisions needed to balance the interests of both countries. It would be extremely regrettable to miss this unique opportunity for peace, security and economic growth, Trump wrote in the letter. The U.S. president also wrote that the U.S. was ready to help in reaching the agreement on normalization, adding that "a peaceful, productive" relationship between Serbia and Kosovo would be a milestone for the region. An agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is within reach. I look forward to hosting you and President Hashim Thaci at the White House to celebrate what would be a historic accord, Trump said.

VUCIC CONGRATULATES PUTIN ON RUSSIAN SECURITY WORKERS' DAY

BELGRADE, December 20 2018 (Beta) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Dec. 20 congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Russian Federation's Security Agency Workers' Day, according to a press release from his office. "Allow me to truly congratulate [you on this day], not just as Russia's president, but as a man who began his brilliant career in security agencies," President Vucic wrote, adding that the security traditions that had been established so far "represent one of the most important elements of Russian statehood." Vucic also thanked Putin for "Russia's stance on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and its active support in international organizations." "I look forward to your upcoming visit to Serbia, which will not only be a confirmation of strong Serbian-Russian friendship, but an opportunity to discuss cooperation on concrete projects in the future," Vucic wrote.

STEFANOVIC: CONDEMNING EVERY FORM OF VIOLENCE IS IMPORTANT

BELGRADE, December 20 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said in Mladenovac, on Dec. 20, that it was important for the state and society that every form of violence is always condemned, regardless of who the perpetrator is, as protection of the victim was paramount. "We want to oppose every form of violence. Violence is impermissible and no-one must be exposed to violence with no response," said Stefanovic, who had attended a class in the Sveti Sava elementary school alongside OSCE mission chief in Serbia Andrea Orizio on the subject of the Basics of Child Safety. Stefanovic said that first graders had had the opportunity to hear a police officer speak on why violence was not allowed and that it was important for children to realize this in first grade. Speaking on the subject of the Basics of Child Safety, which was introduced at his request, Stefanovic said that over 2,700 police officials were teaching classes to students in first, fourth and sixth grade this year. The minister thanked the OSCE ambassador for his assistance and support in realizing the Basics of Child Safety classes, while OSCE Ambassador to Serbia Andrea Orizio said that he was proud that the OSCE mission in Serbia was supporting the project, as it was innovative and met the needs of children, their families and schools. This is an example of how we can achieve something together that is very useful, Orizio said, adding that a guidebook that was distributed to students had been translated into eight national minority languages and that an application had been made that adults too could use. He said that the initiative could serve as a model for the entire region. I mentioned this in Vienna to the OSCE's chairman. I spoke about how small expenditures could meet big needs, Orizio said. During the class, first graders were shown an application for mobile phones called the Basics of Child Safety, which is of an educational character and intended primarily for students, but their parents as well.

SERBIAN-KOREAN IT CENTER RANKS FIRST ON LIST OF 52 GLOBAL HUBS

BELGRADE, December 20 2018 (Beta) - The Serbian-Korean IT access hub in Belgrade succeeded in one year in rising to first place on a list of 52 similar centers around the world, Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Government Branko Ruzic announced on Dec. 20. At an anniversary celebration he said that "the IT hub is the result of excellent cooperation between Serbia and Korea." The Serbian-Korean IT access center opened last year on Dec. 20 as the result of a memorandum signed by the Ministry of State Administration and Local Government and the National Agency for IT Society of Korea, which donated EUR250,000. Both citizens and startups have free access to the center. Ruzic said that 13,000 people had gone through the center, while 500 training sessions had been organized where civil servants learned how to work on important projects such as an address registry, digitization of cultural heritage, cutting paperwork at service windows and other projects. Korean Ambassador to Serbia Choe Hyoung Chan stressed that the center was the product of cooperation between Korea and Serbia.