VIENNA -- Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar has recommended to Serbia to "support EU's sanctions against Russia."
Source: Tanjug
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"Serbs should know which political signal they are sending to the EU if they choose no to take part at least partially. If Serbia wants to be a serious EU candidate then it must accept our European rules, our policy."
Cerar stressed that the EU "must show Russia where the borders are."
The interviewer asserted that there are "indications that Russia intends to step up its engagement in the Balkans," to which Cerar replied that the issue is "burdened by the Ukrainian crisis."
"The EU must, in economic terms, remain open to Russia. We are neighbors and we must cooperate. At the same time the EU must not allow the Russian Federation to move borders by military force," said the Sovenian prime minister, stressing this was "unacceptable."
He confirmed that he had received "offers from Russia for state-owned enterprises" and announced that they would all be treated "in the same manner" - if it they do not violate the Slovenian and European law.
"Of course Russia has a political strategy for the Balkans, but at the same time we have to adhere to the letter of the law," said Cerar, adding that Russian investors are "welcome."
Speaking about the political situation in Slovenia, he said that Slovenians themselves are, for the most part, responsible for the crisis.
The rule of law and fundamental values are weakened, politics is corrupt, the banking sector is undermined, Cerar pointed out, adding that "the general mood in Slovenia is very bad, while citizens feel that politics is responsible for the failure."
"Serbs should know which political signal they are sending to the EU if they choose no to take part at least partially. If Serbia wants to be a serious EU candidate then it must accept our European rules, our policy."
Yes, it must support and accept general European rules and values, but about policy: Why must Serbia support singular EU decisions when it was not part of the decision making process and had no influence because of not being an EU member?
(Questioner, 26 November 2014 13:42)
Why do these Clowns always have an opinion in what Serbia should be doing. It's none of you business what Serbia does.E
(Goran bogoevski, 26 November 2014 13:55)
How came that the Russians and the Serbs proved to be the most stupid on the continent ! The last taxi-driver in Pristina will tell us what we must do or not. After so many claims that Serbia is in no mood to join the sanctions how can Slovenia kind dystrophic proto-state change anything ? What if next spring Russia marches through the Ukraine and stops only on the Romanian border with absolutely loyal population behind ? Will Slovenia be same NATO minded ? Let’s see the elections in Moldova this Sunday to finally understand that the developments are no longer ruled from Washington DC.
(красная капелла, 26 November 2014 14:14)
You have got to laugh. This is just Slovenia swinging its EU credentials because it costs nothing. I expect next Slovenia would be advising Serbia on economics. Oh, I forgot, Slovenia has been on the verge of bankruptcy these last few years, introducing savage cuts.
(EU Dude, 26 November 2014 15:59)
"I expect next Slovenia would be advising Serbia on economics. "
(EU Dude, 26 November 2014 15:59)
Would not be such a bad idea, since Serbia is miles away from the economic standards Slovenia has reached (GDP, debt/GDP, unemployment, average salary)
(Comm. Parrisson, 26 November 2014 17:11)
Serbia is not joining the EU whether it "sanctions" Russia or not. Serbia is not joining whether it wilfully dismembers its own territory to solidify Albanian heroin routes into Western Europe, or not.
And even if the door was open tomorrow, the EU is where you want to go if you want to make absolute sure that your country's economy has no snowballs chance in hell to ever grow. Rich countries like Sweden and Germany can afford not to grow and still be decent places to live for the time being. The Balkans cannot afford further stagnation. And that's what you get when you sign up to the EU.
The EU is the only trading bloc on the planet NOT growing. The Eskimos and penguins in Antarctica have greater means of growing their economy right now. Someone please tell the EU to suck it.
(Ari Gold, 26 November 2014 20:25)
Why do these Clowns always have an opinion in what Serbia should be doing.
(Goran bogoevski, 26 November 2014 13:55)
I think the problem is that they really believed that Serbia was serious when it was screaming for years about how a founding member of the UN cannot be dismembered by provinces declaring independence and bla, bla, bla but it should now be clear even for these clowns that Serbia was just joking about it and does not really support such principles.
(icj1, 27 November 2014 00:53)
The EU is the only trading bloc on the planet NOT growing.
(Ari Gold, 26 November 2014 20:25)
You mean except for Russia?! I understand mate that your wishes are so strong and you want to make them true regardless of facts but unfortunately facts are very stubborn mate. We can try hard to have them match the reality that you want to built in your brain, but not sure we'll succeed :)
(icj1, 27 November 2014 17:16)