“Lead an independent policy”: why Serbia refused to support the EU in the confrontation with Russia

Serbia will not come into conflict with Russia, which is its centuries-old ally, and will pursue an independent foreign policy, said the head of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs Alexander Vulin.

So he responded to the appeal of the EU Ambassador to Serbia Emmanuel Jofre to Belgrade to support the European Union in the confrontation with Russia, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic reports.

“Dear European Union Ambassador Jofre can expect that Serbia will not come into conflict with Russia, its age-old and often only ally.

Ambassador Jofre can also expect Serbia to pursue an independent policy while it is headed by (President of the Republic.

) Alexander Vucic, ”TASS quotes Vulin as saying.

At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic noted that Belgrade will adhere to the norms of international law, "which is much more than Serbia can expect from the EU."

Vulin told TV Pink last week that one of the world's largest intelligence agencies plans to launch a campaign to discredit him in the media if he does not give up his position on Russia.

According to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, his policy of building ties with Moscow is considered unacceptable.

Earlier, Vulin commented on the call of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Belgrade to choose which side he is on, referring to the special operation that Russia is conducting in Ukraine.

As the Serbian minister said, his country has repeatedly become the object of numerous blackmail attempts and ultimatums, but the republic is "on its side", which, as he stressed, most of the peoples of the EU cannot boast of.

Vulin recalled that Serbia is required to impose anti-Russian sanctions.

At the same time, he wondered who guarantees that the Serbian side will not also be required to supply weapons to Ukraine and become part of the conflict on its territory?

European pressure

Recall that on May 16, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, at a press conference following the meeting of the EU Council in Brussels, called on Serbia to join the anti-Russian sanctions of the European Union as soon as possible and continue to adhere to the foreign policy of the EU.

At the same time, Borrell stressed that maintaining strong ties with Moscow is allegedly incompatible with building a common future with the European Union.

Later, on May 30, German MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel said on TV channel N1 that more pressure would be put on the Serbian authorities in order to force the country to support the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia.

In addition, according to Kramon, Belgrade must coordinate its policy with the EU.

In turn, Aleksandar Vučić, speaking at the GLOBSEC forum in Bratislava on June 2, said that Belgrade did not impose sanctions restrictions against the Russian Federation, since 77% of Serbian residents do not support the adoption of anti-Russian sanctions.

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

• AP

• © Darko Vojinovic

However, on June 14, a press release was published by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, in which the European Parliament called on the Serbian authorities to immediately join the EU decisions against Russia.

The document emphasized that Belgrade must fight "Russian propaganda and other hybrid threats" in Serbia and the Western Balkans in general.

At the same time, the European Parliament considered that regression was observed in the Republika Srpska on issues of key importance for the country's accession to the European Union.

According to the MP from Slovakia, Vladimir Bilchik, in the light of the events in Ukraine, Belgrade should realize the need for urgent measures to "advance along the European path." 

After that, Aleksandar Vučić said that pressure was being put on Serbia's foreign policy.

"It would be absolutely suicidal"

As Stevan Gajich, a researcher at the Institute for European Studies in Belgrade, noted, the position of the Serbian authorities regarding building friendly ties with Russia is absolutely adequate and logical, given that Brussels and a number of NATO countries offer Belgrade to go against their national interests.

“They want the unconditional surrender of Serbia.

If the Serbian authorities imposed anti-Russian sanctions, as demanded in Brussels, it would be absolutely suicidal for the Serbian side.

It would be an economic catastrophe, including due to energy prices, which are already breaking all records, ”the analyst said in an interview with RT.

According to Gajic, despite Serbia not joining the anti-Russian restrictions, the consequences of their introduction by the European Union are already negatively affecting the Serbian economy.

“We are talking, in particular, about the difficulty of air travel, as well as the aggravation of energy problems.

With its anti-Russian policy, Brussels harms the well-being of the Serbian people and contributes to their impoverishment.

But the European Union doesn’t care: they continue to look at Serbia as some kind of Russian player in the center of Europe, ”the expert explained.

At the same time, Belgrade itself is clearly aware of the views of the majority: the prevailing part of the Serbs do not want the introduction of anti-Russian measures, Gajic added.

In his opinion, if the Serbian leadership decided to go against their will, this would lead to protests and a series of resignations.

According to Pavel Kandel, a researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Serbian authorities have to take into account the mood of citizens who oppose anti-Russian policies.

“Now even more Serbs believe that Belgrade should not impose sanctions restrictions against Russia.

Moreover, such views are typical not only for Serbian society as a whole, but also for the electorate of the Vučić party, his own core of voters.

The President of Serbia and his entourage cannot but take this into account.

They are trying to pursue such a policy in order, on the one hand, to reduce the pressure of Brussels, and on the other hand, not to offend their supporters, ”Kandel said in a comment to RT.

In addition, according to the expert, Serbia's course towards Russia is also strongly influenced by economic factors.

“The matter is primarily in energy resources, and especially in gas, which Belgrade receives from Moscow at the lowest price,” he explained.

If desired, Brussels, despite Russian support for Serbia, of course, could “cut off the oxygen to Belgrade, but it will not do this,” the expert believes. 

• European Commission

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Westend61

“Theoretically, the European Union can arrange a blockade of Serbia, but they still understand that inside the republic the EU does not have so many allies - pro-Western politicians.

Such people usually get few votes in Serbian elections.

At the same time, they are extremely fragmented and constantly cannot agree with each other even on key issues.

Therefore, the EU will not go to extreme measures.

Brussels will continue to put pressure on Serbia, using mainly political methods, and possibly financial ones.

But the option of a complete economic blockade of the country is extremely unlikely,” Kandel believes.

Stevan Gajic also believes that Brussels will systematically build up pressure on Belgrade.

“Serbia all the time feels the threat of increasing the level of such pressure.

And the Serbian authorities need to be ready for any development of events, since such pressure will not stop.

Serbia is surrounded by NATO countries, it is no stranger to it, ”the analyst believes.

According to Gajic, Belgrade hopes that the EU will not impose tough sanctions against Serbia, despite its refusal of the sanctions policy towards Russia.

“These hopes are dictated by the fact that the European Union is not united in its desire to punish the Serbian leadership for disobedience.

Serbia has a very important ally in the EU - Hungary, with which it borders.

Belgrade has never had such good relations with Budapest as it does now.

In addition, in general, in the European Union, there is a weakening of unity on the issue of further confrontation with Russia, which increases the chances of Serbia to defend its course, ”concluded the analyst.