“Russia is our friend”: Belgrade does not rule out abandoning European integration
European Commission representative Michael Miller told the Foreign Policy Committee of the European Parliament that Belgrade’s position regarding “Russian aggression against Ukraine” could affect Serbia’s European integration process.
In turn, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Alexander Vulin, is confident that it is time for his country to reconsider its decision on the course towards membership in the European Union.
Regarding the published resolution of the European Parliament, which requires Serbia to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation, Vulin said in an interview with RTS that the policy pursued by members of the European Parliament “clearly indicates that the EU does not want to see Serbia in its membership.”
“We are an old, ancient, historical people who choose their friends. Russia is our friend. The Slavic peoples are our friends, China is our friend, India is our friend, European countries are our friends. Don't expect us to accept your hostile actions. The European Parliament is also not too interested in Europe, but it would like to know everything about Serbia and decide everything that happens in Serbia,” Vulin noted.
He recalled that Serbs' trust in the EU is currently at an all-time low.
“Even if President Vučić gave only one speech in which he expressed doubt about our European path and our European future, I guarantee you that trust in the EU would be lower than in NATO, and you know that NATO is one of the most unpopular institutions among Serbs.
What the European Parliament is doing is the best way to make us understand that we do not need to be in the EU. First there was The Hague, then there was “recognize Kosovo”, “leave the Republika Srpska”, now “impose sanctions against the Russian Federation”. It’s just time to tell ourselves – we are a militarily neutral country, let’s be politically neutral as well,” the minister said.
According to him, the resolution, if adopted, will have no meaning for Serbia.
“They measure our love for Europe by our hatred of Russia. If you love Europe, you must hate Russia. I won't hate Russia, I won't hate anyone. I have the right not to lose a single friend, I do not participate in your conflicts,” said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the same time, the author of the draft resolution, Vladimir Bilchik, threatened that the non-application of sanctions against Russia would have consequences for Serbia, and expressed hope that Belgrade would coordinate its policy with EU decisions directed against Moscow.
And the head of the Western Balkans department of the European External Action Service, Elsa Fenet, praised Serbia's recent vote to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, but added that other actions were also needed.
“Serbia has not yet adopted any of the restrictive measures that directly relate to sanctions against Russia. Contacts with Russia continue at the highest level, including with some controversial figures. Serbia maintains air links with Russia,” Fenet is indignant.
The draft resolution on Serbia must be discussed and submitted to a vote by members of the European Parliament at a plenary session. This is expected to happen in July.
English version :: Read in English "Russia is our friend": Belgrade does not rule out abandoning European integration