Vucic explained the refusal of sanctions against Russia at the request of Scholz

Despite Scholz's "strong" request to join sanctions against RUSSIA, Serbia will not do so, Vučić said. Belgrade is sure

Despite the position of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the European Union as a whole, Serbia does not intend to impose restrictive measures against Russia, as it does not consider such a policy to be effective, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at a press conference, REUTERS reports.

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“As for sanctions, we have a different position. <…> We are mindful of the sanctions [against Serbia] and do not consider the sanctions to be effective,” the President of Serbia said.

Vucic also said that Scholz "clearly and sharply" asked him to impose sanctions against Russia, joining the measures of the European Union. According to the Kurir portal, he added that he clarified to Scholz the economic situation of Serbia: that is, energy ties with Russia, as well as traditional and historical relations with this country.

At the same time, the Serbian President noted the importance of Germany for the country, calling it the most important economic partner of Belgrade, the volume of trade with the German side in the first four months of this year was 25.7% higher than the same period last year. Exports from Germany reached €7.5 billion this year.

“The importance of Germany in the economic sense is enormous. It is the first in support, the first in the exchange of services, in import and EXPORT,” he concluded.

Russia is the third largest trade partner of Serbia, its share in the country's trade turnover is 7%. In 2016, the trade turnover between Moscow and Belgrade was equal to €2.3 billion, with the EU in 2016 the trade turnover amounted to €20 billion.

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The US Treasury called for a coalition of countries imposing sanctions against Russia Politics

Belgrade will resist sanctions against Moscow "for as long as it can," Vucic warned in mid-May. According to him, Serbia is facing the consequences of its stance on sanctions, in particular the lack of access to the capital market and difficulties in servicing loans. “Everyone will say: Vucic announces the imposition of sanctions. No. We will resist,” the President of Serbia stressed.

Vučić emphasized that Serbia's position is not anti-Western or Russophobic, despite being surrounded by NATO countries. He compared the state to a "small island". “Some call it a problem. What is the problem in trusting our people, the heroic genes of our citizens, and that we are able to defend our land and want to have the right to defend our borders, our country, have our own military and protect our sky, ”he explained.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic earlier called on Serbia to stop "sitting on two chairs" and decide on a position. “Serbia has to be very careful [and decide] which side it chooses and supports if it has ambitions to join the EU,” he said. Vučić, in response, drew attention to the fact that this statement was made in a mentoring tone, and not a good neighborly one. He added: “They don’t say: I would like our friends from Serbia to be with us in something. Those would be different words."

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