Belgrade, 25 May 2024 (MIA) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Friday evening that he was distressed by North Macedonia's vote in the United Nations General Assembly in support of the resolution establishing Srebrenica genocide memorial day because he "had invested the most" in the relations with the country, MIA's Belgrade correspondent reports.

After returning from New York, where he spoke at the UNGA session that designated July 11 International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, Vucic told Serbian TV Prva that unlike Montenegro's vote, North Macedonia's position hurt him more, regardless of "the stories about the previous government." 

"North Macedonia's behavior was not fair because it seems to me that I have invested the most in our relations with our Macedonian brothers and they will always be our brothers," Vucic said.

"It turns out that Greece — which abstained from voting — has more backbone than North Macedonia, whether we like it or not," Serbia's President said.

The resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 84 in favor to 19 against, with 68 abstentions. It condemned any denial of the Srebrenica genocide as a historical event and actions that glorify those convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by international courts, the UN said in a press release. mr/