Crisis in relations with West "started after Moscow trip"

Crisis in relations with West "started after Moscow trip"

Jaksic pointed out that Vucic waas until recently receiving a great deal of support from the West and praise for EU integration, negotiations with Pristina, regardless of the fact they have stalled, and from international financial institutions for economic and financial consolidation.

That is why Jaksic thinks Vucic canceling his visit to the U.S. "has a more serious cause" and is proof that things have worsened.

"I hope that interlocutors on both sides will open negotiations to exit from what is undoubtedly a crisis in relations," he said.

If one were to "locate" the possible cause of this, continued Jaksic, "then one should bear in mind that things got much worse since Vucic's return from Moscow."

"Since his return from Moscow, and those diplomatically formulated demands of Russia that it expects people who will defend the interests of the Serbian-Russian alliance and friendship to be in the new government, there has been a disturbance in the relationship with the West," says Jaksic.

Bearing in mind the strategy of "both the EU and Russia," said the analyst, it is obvious that the prime minister must balance.

"If he has balanced in the way it looks he has - greater closeness with Russia - then that has caused dissatisfaction and reactions of the West. But we'll see the composition of the new government, for how long this delicate balancing will be maintained, and for how long this formula can continue. I think that this formula 'both the EU and Russia' is being tested in the most serious manner since it was invented," said the analyst.

Jaksic is not of the opinion that Serbia's EU path is not dependent on the daily circumstances or personal relationships, and says that is in fact the case - "no matter how much we may be saying that it depends on broad orientations and strategic directions."

He, however, is not inclined to underestimate the role of personal relationships, and points out that, if confrontation continued and if a solution is not found, "one cannot rule out, for example, a postponement of the opening of chapters 23 and 24."

It depends, he added, on whether the crisis in relations with the West will be resolved as quickly as it was created.

Asked whether he believes that Serbia is faced with too many requests from too many sides, he said that in the position of balancing, moving even a little to one side means punishment from the other.

"One is always subjected to criticism from both sides," Jaksic concluded.

Another political analysts, Dusan Janjic, said it was "good" that Vucic's meetings with U.S. and EU officials have been postponed.

He also believes Washington and Brussels are not attempting to bring Vucic down, because they would harm themselves in that way.

"Many European countries and most of Europe want to see who will be in the government, and it is much better to go after the formation of the government, to show that you have, I am convinced, a pro-European government that will continue - and this worries the EU the most - negotiations around Kosovo", Janjic told Tanjug.

He interpreted Vucic's statement about no essential misunderstandings with the EU and the U.S. as his "repeated stance on his political orientation - that European integration remains a strategic commitment and that there are no changes on this road."

According to Janjic, while there is no intention to bring down Vucic "there is an intention that he starts to think about what's coming next year, and that is the opening of chapter 31 (of EU accession negotiations) - the alignment of foreign policy."

"Hence also these strong messages from some analysts. Diplomatic circles are concerned and are trying to find out what was agreed with Putin. This information is not leaking, and yet represents an attraction. However, that is not on the main road. On the main road is the support of the EU and the expectation to see the names of ministers and the composition of the government," said Janjic.

"The whole story, (about) a coup, the Balkan Spring, the instability, came due to some open issues, and one of them is the strength of Russia's presence here, and what Serbia means to China," Janjic said, adding:

"This is a natural nervousness, however, there is no sign that some 'underground' movement is being created in Serbia.".

Asked "why it is necessary to repeatedly emphasize Serbia's commitment to European integration," Janjic said that Vucic has to do that "because it happened in the past that even some people from his (electoral) list made different statements."