Serbian President Addresses Military Parade Saying Country's Freedom To Stay Unshaken

NIS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th May, 2019) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday, during a military parade in the country's southern city of Nis, that Belgrade would not allow anyone to threaten its freedom, amid rising tensions with Kosovo.

On Friday, Serbia celebrated Victory Day to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II. The parade, named "Defense of Freedom," included 4,000 troops, 300 military vehicles and 40 aircraft.

"Serbia is a free country and we will not allow anyone to threaten its freedom," Vucic said at the parade.

The president also thanked the thousands of people who came to the parade.

Serbia has been under pressure from the European Union to negotiate with Kosovo, a former province of the country and now a self-proclaimed independent republic since 2008 that Belgrade does not recognize, on the settlement of their territorial dispute. Both Kosovo and Serbia have sights to join the European Union, but the EU bloc has made it a precondition for both sides to find a solution to the conflict before they can join the 28-member trade bloc.