9 hours agoEU urges Serbia not to strengthen ties with Russia
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)The European Union has reiterated its call to Serbia as a candidate country for membership to adapt its position in foreign policy with that of the EU, and to avoid steps contrary to those positions. According to EU diplomats, this requirement is particularly valid in terms of attitudes towards Russia, against [...]
According to EU diplomats, this demand is particularly valid in terms of attitudes towards Russia, against which the EU continues to impose sanctions because of the war launched in Ukraine, while Serbia continues to cultivate friendly reports with Russia.
Foreign Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) and his Serbian counterpart, Marko Djuric, in Moscow.
An EU spokesman, referring to Serbia's recent visit to Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Moscow, and his meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, has said the EU has taken steps to isolate Russia, has reduced to minimum contacts, and is also preparing a new package of sanctions, so it expects Serbia as a candidate country not to take steps against this European Union policy.
Serbia, as a candidate country, should step up efforts to adapt to EU foreign policy as a priority issue. Therefore, it should refrain from actions or statements that go against EU positions in foreign policy“, an EU spokesman has said.
Meanwhile, diplomats from some member states have said that, along with lack of progress in the process of normalising reports with Kosovo, issues of rule of law, even Serbia's close co-operation with Russia has the impact of not opening some negotiating chapters in Serbia's EU membership negotiations, even though Serbia has met the technical conditions for this. /rel/
