The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, in Ljubovija started talks with the residents of Podrinje about lithium and other topics.

Vucic was welcomed by a large number of citizens in front of the building of the municipal assembly.

- Today we have a lot of work ahead of us, we will discuss lithium, that is the most important, but we will also discuss all projects related to Azbukovica, Ljubovija, and all of Podrinje. What is important for you is that we will continue to invest in the road network - he said.

He said that the tunnel project between Ljubovia and Osečina will be completed soon, which will shorten your journey to Valjevo and Belgrade and many other things.

So please be patient because when we are done with these people from Rio Tinto, we will discuss all your other needs, problems and try to solve at least some of those problems. Thank you for waiting for me in such numbers here.

The concerns of the citizens of Podrinje

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said today in a conversation with citizens in Ljubovia that during his stay in Podrinje he saw the great concern of ordinary people about the possibility of opening a mine for lithium and added that there are justified but also unjustified fears.

"Here in Podrinje, I saw the huge concern of the people. And now I am not talking about those who are political opponents, who by the nature of things want to use every opportunity for their political points. I won't even talk about it. Furthermore, I don't want to talk about conspiracy theorists, I'm talking about ordinary people who are genuinely concerned about the possibility of opening a mine that could have a negative impact on the environment - said Vucic.

He says that when it comes to the environment, people are primarily afraid of their waters, of the Jadar, Drina, Sava and Danube.

- But all in all, they are afraid of the water, they are afraid of the landfill and what kind of film it will be, what kind of protection it will be even if the waste is solid, they are afraid of the influence of sulfuric acid, they are afraid of many things - he said Vucic.

He agreed that the conversation will not be easy and simple and emphasized that the director of Rio Tinto, Jakob Stausholm, and Marianti Babic, who heads that company for our country, are there.

What are they saying from Rio Tinto?

The director of the Rio Tinto company, Jakob Stausholm, who is attending the talks between the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the citizens of Ljubovia, said today that the company's safety comes first.

– For us, safety comes first, always and without exception, the safety of all people who work in the mine and live near the mine, the safety of the natural environment near the mine so that water, land and natural habitats are clean and safe – he said.