4 minutes agoEU reacts over Vuciki's visit to Moscow
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)The European Union (BE) wants to rely on Serbia as a reliable partner and it is necessary for Belgrade to ensure its strategic course, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq said in Brussels on 24 April, after Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq confirmed he will travel to Moscow for the Victory Day notice. In response to [...]
In response to a question sent by Radio Free Europe , a European Commission representative added that the European Union has been fully clear with its partners, including candidate states like Serbia, broadcast Periscope.
“Relations with Russia cannot be developed on the work principle as usual with Vladimir Putin's regime, especially in the wake of unprotested and unreasonable aggression against Ukraine”, the representative of the Office for Enlargement and International Partnership, Guillaume Mercier, added in his written response.
Vuciq declared on April 23rd that it has not changed its “position despite pressures” and that it will travel to Moscow on May 9th, for the parade to be organised for the 80th anniversary of victory over Fascism in World War II.
“With [Russia President Vladimir] Putin has always had an open, honest and friendly relationship, which is not always easy and simple, because we don't always agree, but we trust each other when we say something”, Vuciq said.
He also added that it is possible for Moscow to travel alone.
We want the Djuro Macu government to pay the price, I want it to have the opportunity to work with the European Union properly and no one can say anything. It is unlikely that Serbia's army will go because it will face various attacks and sanctions”, Vuciq said.
He added that in Moscow, he will also talk with Putin about a new gas deal and a solution to Serbia's Oil Industry (NIS), which the United States has imposed sanctions on because most of the company's inhabitants are Russian companies.
Serbia's president's first trip to Russia since the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine three years ago was made public by him in early March, following a telephone conversation Vuciq held with Putin.
In subsequent statements, Vuciq insisted that he does not change the decision to visit Moscow, despite the fact that, as he said, the West could respond in a form of sanctions.
As an EU membership candidate, Serbia has not opened a chapter of talks since December 2021.
Its progress has been blocked because of its refusal to harmonise its foreign policy with that of the EU and impose sanctions on Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine.
Brussels also urges Belgrade to progress in rule of law and dialogue with Kosovo. /REL
