"Serbia must bear in mind its interests"

(Tanjug, file)

"Serbia must bear in mind its interests"

BELGRADE -- Serbia wants to be an EU member and we are aware of our obligations on that path but we have to bear in mind our national interests as well, says Ivica Dačić.

Serbia's first deputy prime minister and foreign minister spoke on Sunday.

Commenting on "calls by certain European officials on Serbia to align its policy with the EU regarding the Ukrainian crisis," Dačić told RTS that Serbia "respects EU's rules, but it will not introduce measures against Russia, which is its traditional friend."

“The more we approach the EU, the more we will be obliged to abide by the common foreign and security policy of the EU. However, in this phase Serbia has to demonstrate its commitment to the EU on one side, while on the other it should assess its state and national interests in every individual case,” the minister said.

He said that Serbia has voiced its stance very clearly.

“We respect the territorial integrity of every UN member state, while Serbia cannot and will not introduce any sanctions against its traditional friend - Russia,” Dačić said, adding that this stance is principled.

“We are familiar with our obligations, but life has taught us that we have to bear in mind our interests as well. It would be much easier for us, if we had heard something similar when Kosovo acted illegally in relation to Serbia,” Dačić said.

"No recognition"

Belgrade was over the weekend hosting the 1st Plenary South-East Europe Conference of the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC), which included Ivica Dačić among its participants.

Addressing the conference, Dačić stated that Serbia's cooperation with...

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