Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Serbia pursues a balanced foreign policy

"Serbia is not a leaf in the wind, bending under the pressure of episodic geopolitical changes as they occur. This does not mean that Serbia has decided overnight to change its course. Friendships and alliances in foreign policy are shaped by numerous factors - historical, economic, security-related, and geographic. Serbia is firmly anchored when it comes to its foreign policy orientation", the Newsmax Balkans interviewee emphasized.

He added that Serbia’s policy is one of "realpolitik".

"Approximately 77 percent of our trade is conducted with countries on the European continent and in our immediate neighborhood", he noted.

"We cannot abandon all partnerships without an alternative"

Speaking about criticism from the EU over Serbia’s decision not to impose sanctions on Russia, Djuric said that Serbia should not try to be something it is not.

"We must be adaptable and pragmatic, but we also need to understand that we should not pretend to be something we are not. We cannot abandon all partnerships without clear economic and security alternatives and focus exclusively on ideological preferences of parts of our environment",  said the "Stav dana" guest.

He stressed that Serbia has taken a serious approach to European reforms.

The European Commission has stated that Serbia is technically ready to open Cluster 3, but that discussions on the matter will take place at a later date.

Commenting on the decision not to open the cluster, the minister said the issue would be reconsidered by the EU at a later stage for political reasons.

"Certain member states would like Serbia to adopt a different position toward Russia, probably also due to issues related to Kosovo and Metohija. Nevertheless, I believe it is in Europe’s interest for Serbia, as a country that represents 53 percent of the Balkan economy, to become an equal member of the EU. The speed at which this happens does not depend solely on us, but it is our obligation to do everything that does depend on us",  Djuric pointed out.

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"Serbia pursues a balanced foreign policy"

Speaking about Serbia’s relations with the United States, the foreign minister noted that it is often overlooked that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump suspended the strategic dialogue with Kosovo over the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and that the situation regarding Republika Srpska had improved.

"I believe this will be a year of strategic dialogue with the United States. Serbia pursues a balanced foreign policy and does not forget its friends. As Saint Sava once said, we are the West in the East and the East in the West - above East and West", he concluded.

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