Vucic: Serbia is pillar of stability in region

NEW YORK - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic told CNN that Serbia is on its EU path and constitutes a pillar of stability in the region, and added that the country is doing all it can to become a modern and prosperous state.

Joining the Amanpour show directly from Belgrade by video link, Vucic said late on Monday that he was elected to protect the interests of the country, its economic and political future and this is the reason why he does not wish to impose sanctions on Russia.

Announcing the statement by the Serbian prime minister, the newscaster said that Great War was supposed to put an end to all war situations in the world but 100 years later, tensions in Europe are on the rise once more, especially between Russia and the West and Serbia is a country close to both sides, 'an ally of the Kremlin waiting to access to EU.'

Nevertheless, Vucic said that Serbia's political stand is not neutral.

“We do respect and we do support territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including Crimea as a part of Ukraine. But you are right, we did not impose any sanctions over Russia because of many political, economic, historical and all the other reasons,” Vucic said.

Asked about how difficult it would be for Serbia to preserve the position in the EU talks, Vucic noted that Serbian officials discussed this matter with their European friends.

”We do our best to harmonise our legal system with European legal system, we do our best to join as many as it is possible declarations and resolutions that the European Union has already adopted, and there are small differences on the issue of not Ukraine, but on the issue of sanctions against Russia,” Vucic said.

”I hope that people from...