EU, US dilemma Serbia’s EU commitment soon after Russia deal
BELGRADE, Serbia — The European Union and the U.S. on Monday questioned Serbia’s proclaimed motivation to be a part of Europe’s 27-country bloc following Belgrade signed an agreement with Moscow pledging prolonged-phrase “consultations” on international policy matters amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Serbia’s officials signed the offer very last 7 days in New York with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where most Western delegations shunned Russia’s best diplomat over the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Serbia’s international ministry has sought to downplay the importance of the signed settlement, declaring it really is a “technical” just one and relates to bilateral ties and not security concerns.
While Serbia stated it supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, its appropriate-wing govt has consistently refused to join Western sanctions in opposition to Slavic ally Russia. Aligning international procedures with the EU is a person of the most important preconditions for signing up for the 27-nation bloc, but Serbia has increasingly defied phone calls to do so.
The information of the offer induced harsh criticism from both EU and U.S. officers.
European Fee spokesman Peter Stano warned on Monday that Serbia’s relations with Russia won’t be able to be “business as usual” beneath the latest situations when Moscow is violating the U.N. Constitution with its armed forces committing atrocities in Ukraine.
“It’s a really clear indication of their intention to bolster their ties, to further bolster relations between Serbia and Russia and this is raising really serious queries,” he mentioned. “We are taking this quite critically and we are adhering to this up.”
U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill said “further alignment with Russia is a move in the mistaken course and contrary to Serbia’s said European aspirations.”
“The United States believes that no nation must be expanding cooperation with Russia whilst it continues its war of aggression towards Ukraine,” Hill said in a assertion to The Associated Push. “News of this agreement signed with Russia was astonishing and stands in stark contrast with other constructive conferences in New York with Serbian officers.”
Beneath the 10-12 months rule of Serbian populist chief Aleksandar Vucic, a previous ultranationalist, Serbia has been steadily sliding absent from its proclaimed EU plans and developing close political ties with Russia.
BELGRADE, Serbia — The European Union and the U.S. on Monday questioned Serbia’s proclaimed motivation to be a part of Europe’s 27-country bloc following Belgrade signed an agreement with Moscow pledging prolonged-phrase “consultations” on international policy matters amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Serbia’s officials signed the offer very last 7 days in New York with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, where most Western delegations shunned Russia’s best diplomat over the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Serbia’s international ministry has sought to downplay the importance of the signed settlement, declaring it really is a “technical” just one and relates to bilateral ties and not security concerns.
While Serbia stated it supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, its appropriate-wing govt has consistently refused to join Western sanctions in opposition to Slavic ally Russia. Aligning international procedures with the EU is a person of the most important preconditions for signing up for the 27-nation bloc, but Serbia has increasingly defied phone calls to do so.
The information of the offer induced harsh criticism from both EU and U.S. officers.
European Fee spokesman Peter Stano warned on Monday that Serbia’s relations with Russia won’t be able to be “business as usual” beneath the latest situations when Moscow is violating the U.N. Constitution with its armed forces committing atrocities in Ukraine.
“It’s a really clear indication of their intention to bolster their ties, to further bolster relations between Serbia and Russia and this is raising really serious queries,” he mentioned. “We are taking this quite critically and we are adhering to this up.”
U.S. Ambassador Christopher R. Hill said “further alignment with Russia is a move in the mistaken course and contrary to Serbia’s said European aspirations.”
“The United States believes that no nation must be expanding cooperation with Russia whilst it continues its war of aggression towards Ukraine,” Hill said in a assertion to The Associated Push. “News of this agreement signed with Russia was astonishing and stands in stark contrast with other constructive conferences in New York with Serbian officers.”
Beneath the 10-12 months rule of Serbian populist chief Aleksandar Vucic, a previous ultranationalist, Serbia has been steadily sliding absent from its proclaimed EU plans and developing close political ties with Russia.