Scholz visits Serbia, urges to join sanctions on Russia
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Serbia, in action, looks to preserve sovereignty through its independent stances.
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Olaf Scholz, Germany's chancellor, and Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's president, inspect an honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 10, 2022 (Bloomberg)
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, urged Serbia to join the EU in imposing sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, at a time when Serbia has refused to join the sanctions on Moscow. Serbia has also condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations.
Read more: Serbia pays high price for not sanctioning Russia: Vucic
"Chancellor Scholz has decisively, clearly, and sharply requested that Serbia join the sanctions against Russia," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said as the German chancellor made his first visit to the Balkan country.
Vucic explained Serbia's very specific position on the matter and referred to Moscow's support for Serbia's claim over Kosovo.
Scholz said that it was important to "ensure that as many as possible participate in these sanctions against Russia" as they can "help Ukraine determine its own future."
"Our expectation is... that these sanctions will also be supported by all those who are candidates for EU membership," he said.
In 2008, Kosovo separated from Serbia - although most countries recognize Kosovo's independence, Russia and China have blocked its official recognition in the United Nations.
Earlier on Friday, Scholz visited Kosovo, which looks to become a member of the European Union. He remarked, that it was "inconceivable that two countries that do not recognize each other become members of the EU" - Vucic, in response, said this would be the first time any country from the EU requests mutual recognition as a condition for joining.
Read more: As EU isolates Russia, Serbia embraces old ally
At a time when there are increasing pressures against Russian resources, Serbia secured an “extremely favourable” gas deal with Moscow.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced by the end of May that Belgrade has secured an “extremely favorable” three-year natural gas supply deal with Moscow amid soaring energy prices across the globe
The Serbian president said: “We agreed to sign a three-year contract, which is the first element of the contract that suits the Serbian side very well."
Serbians early March rallied in Belgrade in support of Russia and Serbia has recently vocalized its refusal to join NATO, citing the 1999 killing of Yugoslavian children.
Vucic, who has recently assumed office for the second term in April, also vowed to prosecute any volunteers participating in the war in Ukraine.
