Serbia "respects Russia, but wants to join EU"

Serbia "respects Russia, but wants to join EU"

BELGRADE -- Aleksandar Vučić has told German and Swiss newspapers that Serbia "respects Russia as a great power and a partner, but that its goal is to join the EU."

"Our relations with Russia are completely fine and normal. But our most important is our goal at this point is to join the EU. Europe, that is our goal. For that we will do everything. There is no turning back," the prime minister told "the renowned German and Swiss newspaper," according to the Beta news agency, which quoted the Belgrade daily Blic.

Tanjug reported that Vučić spoke for two high circulation tabloids, Germany's Bild and the Swiss Blick.

Asked whether this means that Serbia "will become a member of NATO," he said it was a "tricky issue" and noted that NATO bombed Serbia in 1999.

He added that Serbia has good relations with NATO and it remains to be seen "where that takes us."

Asked whether he believes that Ukraine will regain Crimea, Vučić, according to a Beta news agency report, said that Serbia from the beginning supports "the territorial integrity of Russia," which includes Crimea.

He also that "recognition of Kosovo is not on the agenda for Serbia" when it becomes an EU member.

"We are negotiating with Priština on improving relations. I'll tell you the same thing I said to Angela Merkel: I'm not very optimistic, seeing the obstacles that lie ahead. However, right now I believe we can solve our problems," Vučić, who was on a visit to Germany this week, said.

Vučić also spoke for the Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti on Friday to say that the visit went "unexpectedly well" and noted that Angela Merkel did not produce "new...