PM: Good relations with Russia, EU remains goal

PM: Good relations with Russia, EU remains goal

LONDON -- Aleksandar Vučić said in London late on Monday that "Serbia wants to maintain good relations with Russia but that does not change its goal, its path to the EU."

After he gave a lecture at the London School of Economics (LSE) the Serbian prime minister was taking questions from students, and some of which related to censorship of the media, relations between Serbia and Albania, and the recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Belgrade.

"In Serbia, there is no censorship, and it is easy to attack me because of my past. I hear serious allegations for which there is no evidence," Vučić said.

He stressed that the Serbian police arrested those responsible for attacks on facilities owned by Albanians which occurred after incidents during a football game between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade.

"We should speak without passion about Serbian-Albanian relations, we should focus on linking our economies," said Vučić.

Regarding Putin's, Vučić said that Russia's role in the liberation of Belgrade was a very obvious reason why the Russian president was invited to the military parade.

"We want to maintain good relations with Russia, but it will not change the strategic goal - accession to the EU," said Vučić.

He also said that economics rather than politics would have a decisive influence on the future of the Western Balkans.

The Q&A session was interrupted by Nikola Sandulović, a former member of the security team of late Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.

He introduced himself as president of the Republican Party of Serbia and a former adviser to Đinđić.

Sandulović said that elections...