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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that despite pressure, Serbia would not jeopardize its national interests by joining Western sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
In an interview with the Financial Times on April 21, he said Belgrade would not “choose sides” despite calls from the European Union for Serbia, as a candidate country for bloc membership, to harmonize its foreign policies with those of Brussels, including sanctions against Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There are talks about side elections. No, we have our side, the interests of Serbia. Nineteen NATO countries bombed us [më 1999] “and imposed sanctions on us,” Vucic said.
Meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, US Senators Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen and Thomas Tillis. Belgrade, 19 April 2022.
NATO bombing of Serbia began after the failure of negotiations to resolve the conflict in Kosovo. Talks were held in Rambouillet and Paris in February and March 1999.
The bombing began to prevent the exodus of the Albanian population to Kosovo, who faced the terror of the Serbian army and police forces. Most members of the police and army, but also the state leadership, including Slobodan Milosevic, who was president, were later tried in The Hague.
Vucic told the Financial Times that Serbia would impose sanctions on anyone because the state leadership does not believe the sanctions would change anything.
“You can put pressure on them and force Serbia, but that is our opinion,” he said.
Meanwhile, during a press conference on April 21, Vucic also acknowledged that Serbia is facing problems and is paying a “very high price”, as it is the only country in Europe that has not imposed restrictive measures on Russia.
He referred to a draft resolution of the European Parliament, which calls on the Serbian authorities to impose sanctions on Russia.
Serbia has voted on several UN resolutions condemning Russian aggression in Ukraine, but has previously said it would not impose sanctions on Moscow.
In addition to the EU, the United States has also asked Serbia to impose sanctions on Russia, as the latter launched the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
During a visit by three US senators to Belgrade on April 19, Washington reiterated calls for Serbia to harmonize its policies with those of the EU and impose sanctions on Russia.
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