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US senators Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis said in Belgrade on Tuesday that Serbia needs to harmonize its foreign policy with that of the European Union.
They made the remarks after meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, stressing that “at this historic moment it is important for the democratic countries of Europe to send a clear message to Russia and hold them accountable.”
The three senators are staying in the region at a time of Russian aggression in Ukraine and concerns about the effects of the conflict in the Western Balkans as well.
“As Russia continues to lose in Ukraine, it will try to create problems in fragile regions nearby. “I am in Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia this week with Senator Shaheen and Senator Thom Tillis, to strengthen the United States’ ties with the Balkans, in the face of foreign efforts to undermine peace,” Senator Chris Murphy wrote on social media ahead of meetings in Belgrade. .
He said that during the talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he was told that a community of democratic countries was being targeted that would condemn Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“We understand the historical ties between Serbia and Russia. “We continue to support Serbia on its path to membership in the European Union, while we have come to strengthen the good relations it has with the United States,” said Senator Murphy.
Senator Shaheen said that they have talked about sanctions against Russia and that discussions about them will continue.
“As the Serbian president said, Serbia’s future is in the west with the rest of Europe and it moves in that direction with trade, business and investment ties. “If this is the goal, then you must have a foreign policy harmonized with the European Union,” said Senator Shaheen.
Belgrade has voted against Russia three times at the United Nations, but has not imposed sanctions on it. A longtime ally of Serbia, Moscow backed Belgrade’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence, which was declared in February 2008 with the support of the United States and key European Union countries.
Senator Murhy said he was disappointed with the lack of progress in the Kosovo-Serbia negotiation process and that the issue would be discussed in Pristina later this week.
U.S. senators also said Tuesday that if Serbia wants to join the European Union, it must reconsider its armaments from Russia and China.
“In the long run, I think every country has to make a decision whether it is in their best security interest to have a relationship with China. “If Serbia intends to be a member of the European Union, then it is probably not in its long-term interest to have a security relationship with China,” said Senator Murphy.
Earlier this month, China handed over an air defense system to Belgrade, despite earlier US warnings that Serbia must bring its military in line with Western standards if it wants Western integration.
The acceptance of Chinese weapons sparked reactions amid Western concerns that a wartime arms embargo in the Balkans could threaten fragile peace in the region./VOA
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