The Rector’s Board of the University of Belgrade has opted not to accept the dialogue invitation from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as reported by Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

According to a statement from the Rectors’ Collegium, they reviewed the President’s dialogue invitation dated February 3, 2025, and determined that, under current circumstances, they would not participate.

“The multitude of inconsistencies in public statements by representatives of state bodies does not assure us that a dialogue aimed at addressing students’ demands is feasible or effective, particularly when it involves parties lacking a mandate to deliberate on these matters, and to whom the demands were not directly addressed,” the statement mentioned.

On the previous day, Vučić invited the Rector’s Collegium of the University of Belgrade to engage in dialogue on Wednesday, February 5, at their convenience, intending to find a resolution to the ongoing blockade of classes at higher education institutions.

Below is the complete response from the Rector’s Collegium.

“The Rector’s Board of the University of Belgrade has assessed the dialogue invitation from the President of the Republic of Serbia on February 3, 2025, affirming the unity of the University, and decided not to accept the invitation in the current context.

The numerous inconsistencies in public statements by state representatives do not convince us that a meaningful dialogue aimed at fulfilling student demands can take place, especially when it involves parties that lack authorization to discuss these demands.

The call for dialogue emerges amidst a context where all moral and legal standards have been breached, and in an environment of widespread distrust. As representatives of the University and members of the academic community, we are further disheartened by the ongoing media attacks on the academic community and even more alarming, unacceptable, physical assaults in public settings.

The University of Belgrade reiterates its insistence on the fulfillment of student demands by the appropriate institutions and emphasizes that dialogue must occur in an atmosphere of mutual respect among all relevant stakeholders, instilling trust in institutions and adhering to individual competencies.

The University of Belgrade stands prepared to offer expert support to verify if the demands have been addressed, aligning its further actions with student plenums in order to maintain the unity of the University.

We believe dialogue is essential for fostering a democratic society, and the University of Belgrade, as a representative of the academic community and a significant social actor, is available for discussions on any socially relevant issues within our scope of competence and expertise.

We appreciate the invitation and assure the President and the public that as long as we operate within our assigned duties and jurisdictions, we are dedicated to serving the university community, students, and society as a whole.

In this spirit, we remain open to dialogue, with full academic and personal accountability.”

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