Marko Djuric, vice president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Belgrade, Serbia, Dec. 10, 2019. The United States is "pouring oil over fire" to undermine China's international reputation over the situation in Hong Kong, the Serbian party leader has said. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua)
BELGRADE, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States is "pouring oil over fire" to undermine China's international reputation over the situation in Hong Kong, a Serbian party leader has said.
Marko Djuric, vice president of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, criticized the so-called Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 signed by the United States recently, in an interview with Xinhua.
He said that the passage of the act has nothing to do with democracy or human rights.
"The act on human rights in Hong Kong is actually putting oil over fire," he said. "It is not helping to defuse the situation or to resolve the situation. It is actually inflammatory."
Djuric added that the protests in Hong Kong carry an apparent signature of foreign intervention, which is aimed at creating internal and external disturbances.
The protests "have been hijacked by certain foreign powers, who wish to interfere in China's internal affairs and who wish to use, manipulate and exploit this topic to weaken China's position," he noted.
The official added that thanks to China's wise handling of the Hong Kong affairs, the situation in Hong Kong remains under control.
"Chinese response ... was very moderate," he said. "I think that the leadership in China has taken a wise decision to act with moderation and to constantly and repeatedly call for the rule of law."
Djuric said that the violence of protesters, such as that in the streets of Hong Kong, "would in any other part of the world be called fascism and extremism."
