FM: No change of position on sanctions

FM: No change of position on sanctions

"Serbia will not change the current position on Russia and the crisis in Ukraine. We cannot join the sanctions. However, gradual harmonization of foreign policy with the EU as part of the process of European integration is inevitable," Dačić told the daily Blic.

Dačić is on Friday visiting Germany where, in addition to the Ukrainian crisis, he will discuss the Serbian chairmanship of the OSCE the next year and the opening of new chapters in the accession negotiations with the EU.

According to him, Brussels believes that other chapters should not be opened before chapters 23 and 24, while the EU announced the opening of these chapters in the spring of next year.

"We think it chapters 32 and 35 should be opened concerning the spending of budget money and relations with Priština, and by the end of the year. We'll see if there is space for them to recognize our efforts," said the minister.

Commenting after PM Aleksandar Vučić announced he would hold a news conference to address "EU's demarche," Dačić said late on Thursday said that the EU asked Serbia not to use state measures as incentives to boost exports at the expense of the EU, which he said the government will carefully consider.

"Serbia has not introduced any special measures to support such activities. We will carefully consider that address of the EU and the government will take a stand on that," he told the RTS.

Dačić commented on his meeting with German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier planned for Friday with whom, as he said, he would talk about Serbia's accession to the European Union.

"For Serbia, it is very important to by the end of the year open some chapters and the position of Germany about it, regardless of the fact the EU is made up of 28 countries, will be one of the most crucial," said Dačić.

He added that Germany would certainly be interested in the planned gradual harmonization of Serbian foreign policy with the foreign policy of the EU, as part of the process of European integration.