PM: Serbia won't join sanctions against Russia

PM: Serbia won't join sanctions against Russia

Vučić was was interviewed as part of a program dedicated to the WW1 anniversary coming at a time of increased tensions between the West and Russia, and was introduced as prime minister of "one country that is close to both sides - a traditional ally of the Kremlin that is also looking to join the European Union."

"Actually we have our own stand, our own political stand which is not neutral. We do respect and we do support territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, including Crimea as a part of Ukraine. But you're right; we did not impose any sanctions over Russia and because of many political, economical, historical and all the other reasons. But today Serbia is a pillar of stability in the region which is very important and we hope that we'll be able to keep stable Serbia and we hope that we'll have enough trends to take care of our economical development," Vučić said.

Asked how Serbia planned to respond to pressure from the EU and Russia related to the construction of the South Stream pipeline, he said Serbia does not want tensions, but a prosperous economic future for its citizens.

"We spoke without with our European friends and as you know, I had a chance to speak to Chancellor Merkel and also to the prime minister of France, Mr. Manuel Valls and discuss - we discussed these issues with Manuel Barroso and Stefan Fule, the commissioners. And of course we have our own interests. We have to take care of our own people but also we do our best to harmonize our legal system with European legal system. We do our best to join as many as it is possible declarations and resolutions that European Union is already adopted. And there are small differences on the issue of not Ukrainian, Ukraine but on the issue of sanctions against Russia and I hope that people from Europe will understand specific situation that Serbia is facing today, particularly because of that need that I emphasize at the beginning of our discussion tonight, that we need to be very stable in the future," Vučić said, and added:

"We are doing our best to be a pillar of that stability in this region. We do our best to improve our economy. We do our best to be a modern state and we do our best to join EU.in 2020 or to do our best to fulfill all our obligations and then it'll be up to member states to make a decision whether Serbia did its best or didn't do it."

Asked whether Serbia "condemned the annexation of Crime," the prime minister once again reiterated that the country "supports and respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and Crimea as a part of Ukraine," adding that at the same time, Serbia - "did not and is not" impose sanctions against Russia.

The country needs to protect its "economic and political future," and is "very dependent on Russia, on Russian gas, on our export to Russia, particularly of our agricultural products," and that his government wished to avoid imposing any sanctions would end up harming Serbia itself.

Asked whether he was "worried about the situation in Europe right now," and commenting on the interviewer's statement that the WW1 began "in your neighborhood, in Sarajevo," Vučić said:

"As you know, Serbian guy triggered that First World War, Gavrilo Princip, and there were always different assessments on his role from Serbian side and also on the German side. But that's the reason that you actually mentioned that we are striving for peace, that we are doing our best to preserve our position, to preserve our stand, to be a pillar of stability in the region, not to cause anymore problems, not to be a part of the problem but to be a part of the solution, to be a part of creating a modern state, to creating the best possible environment in the whole region and that's the reason why we do not want to participate in any kind of clashes, in any kind of fights, in anything like that."

"We do have to improve our economy. We just passed in our parliament new labor law, very modern one, new privatization law, new bankruptcy law, new sets of media laws. That will bring Serbia closer to you. And that's the reason why we are so passionate in insisting on our political stand that will preserve peace in this country and it will also mean that we are not going to be any more in the heart of the problems of Europe," he said, and added:

"Today, this evening in your show, I heard a lot of things, a lot of quarrels from Gaza region, from Russia-Ukraine region. And Serbia is not a part of the problem. And that's a great news for the whole world. Serbia is a pillar of stability in this region and Serbia will remain the pillar of stability. And Serbia will become a prosperous economically prosperous and very modern state. And I think that's a great news. Although we'll have to make many harsh, many tough economical reforms, for the first time we'll also take fiscal consolidation measures without pressure from outside. And that's a great news for the whole world."