Because of strained relations of Washington and Brussels to Moscow, Serbian Government expects additional pressure on Belgrade to join western sanctions against Russia.
The crash of Malaysian plane, for which West blames Moscow, probably will lead to new sanctions against Russia. UK will already on the today’s session of the council of the EU Foreign Affairs try to convince other European countries to adopt additional measures. Serbia is becoming less able to balance and stay neutral.
Serbian government hasn’t made a single specific decision which would lead to change of the recent policy yet. Our source from Nemanjina 11 says that they expect additional “suggestions” of western states to Serbia, which would like to get into EU, to determine its stance toward Russia more specifically after the accident in Donjeck. The position of Serbia is much more difficult after the plane crash, and it will be getting even more difficult if relationships between West and Moscow get more strained, adds our source.
On the other hand, Aleksandar Vučić said that “no one speaks the language of ultimatums to Serbia today – nor would he personally allow something of the kind.”
“The Serbian government has a policy of EU integration, it also received the trust of the Serbian citizens to pursue a policy of good relations with the Russian Federation and the government of Serbia will conduct such a policy,” Vučić told reporters when asked to comment on the article.
“Our friends do not speak to us using the language of ultimatums. Nobody talks to me that way, and I would rather not be president of the Serbian government than allow something of that kind,” he added. Vučić further remarked that “there are certainly different visions about certain things, such as South Stream,” but pointed out that “Serbia, too, has a few questions.”
The gas pipeline, he continued, “is a good contract for us”: “Whether the gas flows or not, it secures EUR 350 million for us and let somebody tell me where else we’re going to earn those 350 million”. “Let someone tells us how to explain this to our citizens,” said Vučić.
He added that Serbia is “on the European path which it will not give up,” and that “there will be things that it may not be able to respond to in line with expectations, but will try.” The prime minister “emphasized that we are aware that we have great responsibilities,” was reported.
