McAllister expects Serbia to maintain its pro-EU orientation

BONN - European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur on Serbia David McAllister said that the EU and NATO do not look favorably upon 4,500 Serbian troops saluting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belgrade, and that Brussels expects that Serbia will keep its pro-EU orientation regardless of Putin's visit.

From the historical viewpoint, President Putin's visit to Belgrade is understandable. Liberation Day is marked in remembrance of October 20, 1944, when the German Nazis withdrew from Belgrade when faced with the Yugoslav Partisans and the Red Army, McAllister said in an interview to Deutsche Welle, the first since taking office.

It is completely understandable that this is an important date for people in Serbia, he said.

At the same time, officials, not only in Brussels, but also in Washington, underline that the idea according to which 4,500 Serbian troops salute President Putin is not something that the NATO and EU look favorably upon, he said.

Despite this, he voiced the expectation that Serbia would maintain its pro-EU orientation, and that a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis will remain the EU's priority.

McAllister also voiced his regret over the incident that took place during the European qualifier between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on Tuesday evening, and noted that it illustrates that the reconciliation process in the region has to include not only authorities, but also civil society and the entire people.

Commenting on the announcements from Brussels that there will be no enlargement in the next five years, he said that Serbia can join the EU when it is ready, although it is clear that no candidate country is now ready for such a step.

The country is on the right track,...