"Borders in Europe are inviolable"

"Borders in Europe are inviolable"

In an interview published by Belgrade-based daily Politika on Monday, Erler said that it was important that even partners with whom the Russian Federation was maintaining a special relationship should send it the message that the norms and values of international law and the OSCE had to be respected.

"It implies reiterating unequivocal support to the principle of inviolability of existing borders in Europe and non-use of force as a means of settling disputes between countries," said Erler.

He added, however, that he did not believe the idea that Serbia could be a mediator between Russia and the European Union was good.

Serbia is already in the process of negotiations and wants to become a member of the European Union, which means that it accepts the EU’s foreign policy. It is just the thing that Belgrade should do. But it does not mean Serbia should act as an intermediary between the EU and any third parties, Erler observed.

He pointed out that the US has sent a clear message that it has not yet been decided if a “green light” will be given for the delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

And that is good. We in the European Union agree that this conflict cannot be resolved by military means. We will therefore not falter in our efforts to find a diplomatic solution, said Erler.

In support of this, Erler pointed out that the German chancellor and foreign minister had been unequivocally opposed to deliveries of weapons to Ukraine.

Speaking about the further course of the Ukrainian crisis, Erler noted that more than 5,000 people had been killed in the armed conflict so far, but there was a 12-point ceasefire agreement, the Minsk Protocol, signed by the parties to the conflict on September 5, 2014, that had to be pursued.

Only when we succeed in having the weapons silenced can all parties start talks on a sustainable political solution, Erler concluded.