Starović: Serbia's obligation is gradual alignment with EU's foreign policy

„We are required to fully align with the EU's foreign policy at this moment, to impose sanctions against Russia, which means changing the rules of the game during the game. It is not included in our defined obligations,“ Starović said in a guest appearance on „Pink“ Television.

According to him, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia have fully aligned with the EU's foreign policy, imposed sanctions on Russia, but the method of valuation of those acts is questioned now, since no clear date for achieving full membership has been determined.

„Have they made progress on their way to the EU?“ They have not. Accession to the EU is undoubtedly a priority of our foreign policy, it is of interest to the state and its citizens“, said Starović and noted that the possible imposition of sanctions on Russia would be devastating for Serbia's economy.

The State Secretary at the MFA assessed that the statements implying that if Serbia failed to impose sanctions on Russia and failed to recognise the so-called Kosovo, it would be removed from the list of countries with visa-free access to Schengen area or investments would be suspended remind in a way of ultimatums and threats, and Serbia has never responded to ultimatums, he emphasised.

Starović said that Chapter 31 relating to foreign policy has not been opened in the EU accession negotiations and Serbia has not met the transition criteria for opening and closing that Chapter.

„Our only obligation is to gradually harmonise the foreign policy until the moment of becoming a member“, emphasised Starović.

After Croatian President Zoran Milanović's statement that he would block Serbia's accession to the EU as long as he lived, it finally became clear that it was the main line of Croatian policy and that it was difficult to talk about EU expansion without reforms in decision-making in Brussels, he noted.

The State Secretary at the MFA stated there was no doubt that the pressures applied by the western part of the international community in order to obtain Serbia's agreement on independence of the so-called Kosovo would intensify, but that would not happen.

„It is clear why these pressures have intensified lately, it is precisely because of the wish, as the Prime Minister says, to remove that pebble in the shoe of the western part of the international community, to remove the argument of Russia that speaks of a clear precedent established by accepting the independence of our southern province. Another cause of the pressures we are exposed to is that Serbia is forced to impose sanctions on itself by accepting the regime of sanctions against Russia,“ said Starović.

He emphasised that Serbia's policy was clear and persistent, and the solid foundation Serbia was sticking to were the conclusions reached by the National Security Council on 25 February.

Starović said that Serbia adhered to the fundamental principles of international public law, which were flagrantly violated twice in the case of Serbia.