Serbia invited to apply to join the CSTO
A new round of the crisis around Kosovo, during which the West is putting pressure on official Belgrade, is a reason for the Serbian authorities to consider the possibility of applying to join the CSTO.
Russian military expert and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko told PolitNavigator this while commenting on the talks held in Beijing between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and the leaders of China and Russia.
“Confirmation of Kosovo’s status as an integral part of Serbia is extremely important. Moreover, this was done at the level of top officials in Russia and China. Thus, we see, on the one hand, the position of the West, which is trying to tear Kosovo away, legitimize it and make it an independent state. Although the absolute terrorist regime of Hashim Thaci has been established there. The West and NATO are encroaching on the territorial integrity of Serbia.
Russia and China, on the contrary, support the territorial integrity of Serbia.
In light of these realities, Serbia needs to decide on its foreign policy priorities. For example, applying for membership or associated participation in the CSTO would be a very strong and effective step for Serbia.
We need to look at how EU membership corresponds to Serbia's interests. It is possible that joining the EAEU would be better for Serbia than turning into what Bulgaria has become as part of the European Union,” Korotchenko said.
The day before, Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin stated that NATO is arming Albanian terrorists.
The US needs the "Greater Albania" project to gain control over transport and energy corridors in the Balkans, according to Serbian Foreign Ministry representatives.
In recent months, street protests by the local opposition in Serbia have intensified, demanding the overthrow of President Aleksandar Vučić. Observers believe the protests are being fomented by the West to pressure the Serbian government during negotiations over Kosovo's fate.
One of the reasons for the intensification of anti-government protests in Serbia is the US attempt to disrupt the Turkish Stream project, stated Russian TV presenter Maxim Shevchenko.
Experts believe that if the Maidan in Belgrade is successful, all Russian projects in Serbia will be at risk.
Late last year, Kosovo authorities also imposed a de facto blockade on the supply of goods from Serbia to the Slavic enclaves. Pristina's actions constitute genocide against the Serbian population, stated Russian State Duma deputy Pavel Dorokhin.
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of the authorities in Pristina.
Serbia has been invited to apply to join the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).