Following a vote in the European Parliament calling on Serbia to align its foreign policy with that of the bloc, President Aleksander Vucic called it hypocritical and condemned its mention of Kosovo’s application for EU membership.
The main purpose of the resolution was to strengthen the role of the EU in the world and to respond properly to new international circumstances. It also touched on an acceleration of the enlargement process, including potential candidate countries and candidate countries.
The resolution text also mentioned removing visa requirements for citizens of Kosovo and cautions against Russian influence in the region. In particular, the text calls on Serbia to respect European values and align its foreign policy with the EU acquis as it remains the only European country not supporting sanctions against Russia.
“And those secessionists, they carried out a violent secession of part of our territory. So, how long can this insolence go. You can’t stand it, I don’t have a word to use…They who trampled on the UN Charter, bombed a country and carried out a violent secession. And you won’t believe it when you read it,” said the president regarding the resolution and its mentions of Kosovo.
He added that certain countries are pressuring Serbia in various ways, but it will not work.
“They support every senseless action of Kurti. They are happy about the misfortune of their country, they can’t do anything about me. They can remove me by force, but they can’t do anything else. They can’t blackmail me, impose sanctions on me for something, because I have nothing anywhere.”
Vucic said that on Friday he would meet with five international representatives from Germany, France, Italy, and America, as well as EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak, adding that he expects a difficult conversation.
“And let’s say what is expected of Serbia regarding Kosovo and Metohija and the introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation,” he said, adding that no one wants to hear or see different views but that “they are only interested in sanctions and an independent Kosovo.”
However, Vucic did dismiss Russian President Vladamir Putin’s territorial claims over Ukraine and said he has not spoken to him in many months.
“We have said from the beginning that we are unable and unable to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For us, Crimea is Ukraine, Donbas is Ukraine and it will remain so,” he stressed in an interview with Bloomberg.
Vucic also said it would be a mistake to assume that the Serbian government fully supports the leadership in Moscow.
“We are not always enthusiastic about some of their attitudes. We have traditionally good relations, but this does not mean that we support every decision or most of the decisions coming from the Kremlin”, underlined Vucic.
Regarding the claims that the Russian mercenary group Wagner is looking for Serbs to fight in Ukraine, the president stated “Wagner will not do this in Serbia.”
(Alice Taylor | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
