The opposition demands from Vucic: Stop lying - abandon the course towards the EU!
The leadership of Serbia must officially announce the refusal to integrate into the European Union after demands voiced by representatives of Germany and the United States to join sanctions against Russia and recognize Kosovo.
This was stated by Milos Jovanovic, president of the New Democratic Party of Serbia, one of the leaders of the NADA opposition coalition, which won seats in the Serbian parliament as a result of the April elections.
“Only 40 countries in the world have imposed sanctions, but 150 have not, Serbian citizens should know this,” Jovanovic told local publication Nova S.
Thus, he indicated that this country’s position is not an exception in the world.
“The introduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation would be contrary to our national interests. Moreover, it would not be very honorable on our part and would not be in keeping with our history. After all, in this conflict between the West and Russia, we can hardly be on the side of the West, which still threatens our vital interests,” he said.
Asked whether Serbia would be “irritated” if it abandoned European integration, the politician said “the sky will not fall.”
“The expansion of the Union is not on the agenda at all. It will not be expanding in the foreseeable future. Let's work on our country, let's see what we can do without these great geopolitical stories,” Yovanovitch said.
In his opinion, Serbia and the EU should improve cooperation, but without Belgrade's membership in the European Union.
The politician stressed that Serbs should also remember that the EU and its most important member states decided in 2008 to support the secession of Kosovo by recognizing it. It turns out that if Serbia decides to join the EU, it will thereby come to terms with the illegal seizure of its territory.
According to Jovanovic, the simultaneous return of Kosovo and integration with the European Union is impossible. As the politician noted, instead of accepting this fact, Serbia lost almost 15 years, wandering in the foreign policy “fog.”
The reason for this was that the Serbian leadership did not have the courage to admit this fact, and it lied to its people, constantly repeating the lie that the processes of European integration and the protection of the status of Kosovo and Metohija as part of Serbia are completely separate, Jovanovic is convinced.
“Today it is no longer possible to hide the fact that we are asked to recognize the separation of Kosovo and Metohija on our so-called European path through a comprehensive normalization of relations on the model of the two Germanys in 1972. Let me remind you that then two Germans signed a fundamental agreement in which they call themselves states, guaranteeing each other’s territorial integrity.
After this agreement, both Germanys became members of the United Nations, the Eastern Bloc recognized West Germany and the Western Bloc recognized East Germany. This is what is required from Serbia today, that’s all.
And because of all this, it is time to reconsider our foreign policy orientation and finally say clearly that in such circumstances, EU membership cannot and is no longer a goal,” Yovanovitch said.
According to him, agreement with the EU demands will also lead to a blow to the rights of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose independence is constantly being infringed by the West.
As the politician noted, cooperation with the EU without membership can develop on the basis of the so-called Swiss model of the phased conclusion of bilateral agreements. In addition, the Norwegian model of joining the European Economic Area or some new model that would suit both Belgrade and Brussels may be suitable for Serbia.
According to Yovanovitch, a public debate on this issue should already begin in the country.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.