Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic laid a wreath on Sunday

OPLENAC - Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Dacic laid a wreath on Sunday at the tomb of the leader of the First Serbian Uprising Karadjordje Petrovic at the Church of St George in Oplenac and said that now was not the time to experiment with stathood, but to by united.

"That is why it is important to have political and economic unity in the country," he told reporters.

Whether Serbia is on the road to achieve that depends on whether it has a long-term goal ahead of it or just daily political goals, he stated, adding that the coming snap parliamentary poll would show that.

He sent his greetings to the people for Statehood Day, adding that the holiday did not only symbolize the Serbian people's desire for freedom, but also a much more important memory of the beginnings of statehood and the struggle to build a modern Serbia.

"Back then, it was also written in the Constitution that Serbia is a vassal of the Turkish sultan. Today, the international situation is such that Serbia has to fight fiercely for its national interest. The time we live in is not good for experimenting with statehood, but it is time to work united towards a safe future," he stressed.

The strength of the people has always lain in recognizing what is best for Serbia, and that is the European path, but also protection of the national interest, he stated.

Dacic laid the wreath to mark Statehood Day, February 15.

Photo Tanjug, R.Prelic