Stano said Serbia cannot strengthen ties with Russia, which is waging war on Ukraine.
Stano also recalled that the EU called on Serbian leaders to more closely align foreign policy with EU initiatives.
The EU also called on Serbia to uphold international values and Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
Asked about the agreement of the foreign ministers of Serbia and Russia to continue consultations in 2023 and 2024, Stano said this is a clear sign that Serbia wants to further strengthen ties with Russia and this raises serious concerns.
The EU’s top representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Giuseppe Borel, said the EU has made it clear that EU partner countries, especially those who are negotiating to join the bloc, including Serbia, they cannot maintain normal relations with Russia, because the Russian regime is responsible for so many crimes.
US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, at a press conference in Belgrade on Monday, is also expecting explanations from Serbia on the aforementioned agreement.
It’s not entirely clear what the document contains, Hill said, adding that no one should sign anything with Russia at this point.
The US ambassador also said the US supports Serbia on its path to the EU and its efforts to reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources.
The head of the Serbian EU delegation, Emmanuel Joffre, told reporters in Belgrade on Monday that the EU expects Serbia to defend the EU, defend European values and international law.
“By deciding to sign a cooperation agreement with Russia, Serbia sends the opposite message, regardless of its position of not recognizing the results of the referendum held by Russia on the occupied territory of Ukraine,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Belgrade Agreement, signed by Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov at the UN General Assembly in New York over the weekend, is described as a “technical” document.
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