DAVOS — Aleksandar Vucic says it is possible to foster friendly relations with Russia and be a member of the EU at the same time, and that Serbia is “nobody’s puppet.”
“Serbia is not Russia’s or anyone else’s puppet,” the prime minister told the Swiss tabloid Blick, adding that he “said in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s presence that Serbia wished to join the EU.”
Vucic stressed Serbia is “close to Russia,”but its goal was to be part of the EU, and that he “hoped and was doing everything to make that happen in 2019.”
“Serbia has no doubt that it is possible to have friendly relations with Russia and be a member of the EU at the same time, and the EU knows well that it can benefit from it,” he noted.
When asked what Serbia could offer, seeing as it had taken over the OSCE chairmanship, Vucic replied that it could help the west, but that it wished to remain neutral.
Serbia has definitely profited from Switzerland’s excellent work as well, he remarked.
Commenting on the fact that the OSCE has to address the fierce conflict in Ukraine and talking about ways to suppress the violence, he stated that the conflict was bad for Russia, Ukraine and the entire Europe, but added that Serbia was a small country, and that Europe had to do more for peace.
When asked “how Serbia could remain neutral when it had close relations with Russia,” he responded that the relations with Russia were rooted in history and that the fact could only be beneficial to the EU in seeking a peaceful solution.
Someone else will make the decisions afterwards, he pointed out, adding the economic and legal reforms should be completed by then.
Commenting on whether Serbia is strong enough to become a member of the EU, he said that a lot of work was being invested to that end.
Serbia’s future is bright and it will not be the poorest country in the EU, he underscored, adding that the country was no beggar and did not want charity, but to become a full member of the EU.
When it comes to “the issue of Kosovo and its independence,” Tanjug reported that he told the tabloid the talks with Pristina will resume on February 9. “There are a lot of issues that could be resolved. The Kosovo Albanians want independence, but Serbia wants something else. However, the atmosphere is much better now,” said Vucic.
“Serbia cannot accept an independent Kosovo at this moment, but the Serbs and Albanians can live, not only next to each other, but together,” he emphasised.
He pointed out he had come to the World Economic Forum in Davos to learn and meet people willing to invest in Serbia.
He stated that he, as a prime minister, needed friends, and that Davos was the best place to find them.
Vucic revealed that he would have 14 meetings while in Davos.
These will include meetings with the prime ministers of China and Turkey, a member of the Swiss Federal Council and, he hopes, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
When asked about the effects of the Swiss franc hike on Serbia, he answered that “around 22,000 Serbian citizens had mortgages in Swiss currency.”
“They are desperate and afraid of losing their homes,” he stated, adding that the government was trying to help them as much as possible.
