Officials instructed not to vote against Russia

Officials instructed not to vote against Russia

BELGRADE -- Serbian officials have received instructions "not jeopardize relations with the EU and Russia" as they vote in international forums.

As they take part in meetings of international organizations, Serbia's government and parliament representatives and diplomats must "strictly follow the state policy towards the developments in Ukraine, explaining the specific position of Serbia and refraining from voting for documents and resolutions that would jeopardize our relations with Brussels and the Moscow."

According to the daily Večernje Novosti, unofficial signals from Brussels show that the pressure on Serbia to follow EU's policy towards Ukraine and impose sanctions against Russia will continue, especially with the progress in the country's integration bid, "but our state leadership is determined not to deviate from the set course of neutrality," according to the newspaper.

EU may punish Serbia by prolonging the opening of the first negotiating chapters, but the minister without portfolio in charge of EU integration, Jadranka Joksimović, believes that "member states will be sensitive to the specific position of Serbia and that there will not be consequences for our European integration processes."

Aleksandar Senić, who heads the parliamentary committee on EU integration, also told the daily he thinks "the only measure of the pace of our European road should be the speed and quality of reforms."

"Until now there has been no indication that there will be a slowdown in our integration," said Senić.

Members of the Serbian parliament will be "under increased fire" in many European institutions - the Council of Europe, the...