"EU path, no sanctions against Russia," PM reiterates

"EU path, no sanctions against Russia," PM reiterates

BELGRADE -- Its bid to join the EU is Serbia's strategic goal, and Serbia supports Ukraine's territorial integrity, but it will not impose sanctions against Russia.

This is what Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said late on Thursday in Belgrade, during a joint news conference with his visiting French counterpart Manuael Valls.

"Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine but, for various reasons, we are not in a situation to impose an embargo against Russia and we are making no secret of that", Vučić said.

"We think that our European partners understand Serbia's position well," he said.

Serbia will not give up on its European path, and it will be very committed to economic and rule-of-law reforms, Vučić said, noting that, as a small country, Serbia is making efforts to maintain its position and preserve stability in the region.

"Jeopardizing stability anywhere in the region would mean jeopardizing the stability of Serbia," Vučić said, expressing hope that the problems between Russia and Ukraine will be solved peacefully.

Manuel Valls told reporters that France "understands the importance Russia bears for Serbia and that it is not asking Belgrade to sacrifice its relations with Moscow."

Nevertheless, just like any other EU candidate, Serbia will have to join the European consensus, Valls told a joint news conference with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

"We know and we understand the importance which Russia has for Serbia, and we understand this all the better since we share years' long relations with Serbia and we also have strong relations with Russia, despite the current hardships,"...