Branka Mihajlovic
EU member states are preparing a new package of tougher sanctions if Russia falls to meet demands that it stop delivering weapons to Ukrainian separatists, and this could raise new challenges to Serbia’s position that it respects the territorial integrity of every UN member state, but that it will not support any sanctions on Russia.
Serbia’s policy of “both the EU and Russia” raises the question of whether the EU will let it sit out the sanctions or whether the EU expects it to align its policies more strongly with the EU.
Correspondence between Michael Kirby, the US ambassador in Serbia, and the cabinet of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic addresses that question.
Kirby said in a recent interview that the US respects the traditional friendship between Serbia and Russia, but that the “world will not greet the fact that they did not condemn endangering Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Serbia firmly said that they respect territorial integrity of every UN member state, but the officials never added a sentence in which they include Ukraine and its whole territory in that statement.”
A response from the cabinet came unusually quickly. Copies of Vucic’s interviews with foreign and local media were circulated in which he directly mentioned Ukraine. For example, to newspapers “Bild” and “Blic” Vucic said: “We were supporting Ukrainian territorial integrity from the beginning, and that includes Crimea as well.”
After that, the US embassy sent a press release expressing regret because of the “erroneous comments” of the US ambassador Kirby regarding the Serbian position toward Ukraine.
The US embassy in Serbia said that it is clear that Vucic and his Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, had said that they support the territorial integrity of all UN member states, especially acknowledging their support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea.
A few hours earlier, asked to comment on a whether he expected a request from Brussels that Serbia impose sanctions on Russia, Vucic said:
“Our friends do not talk to us with the language of ultimatums. To me, as head of the Serbian government, nobody talks that way and they never did and they never will. I would rather stop being the head of the Serbian government than let something like that happen.”
Dacic specified Belgrade’s position regarding the Ukrainian crisis and sanctions on Russia:
“It is beyond dispute that we will consolidate our policy with that of the EU,” adding that Serbia wants to practice balanced politics and avoid pressures from either side.
Media in Serbia seemed to interpret the various statements as a possible gesture by Brussels to postpone the implementation of sanctions on Russia, but RFE/RL’s correspondent, Richard Jozwiak, said that was an incorrect reading of the statements. He said:
“No, that is not postponing sanctions. Basically, the EU, for the first time, announced what would actually happen if they don’t see any progress, and for the first time they drew a ‘red line.’ This means that on Thursday EU ambassadors will receive a list of special areas that could be affected by sanctions.”
Dual perception of Russian responsibility
Former Serbian ambassador to Ukraine, Dusan Lazic, says that the pressure on Serbia will grow but he also believes that the recent uproar over the downing of a Malaysian airplane over Ukrainian territory could lead to a global resolution of this conflict.
“I think that this situation is reaching a point at which everyone starts to realize that if we don’t stop it now it could have very negative, broad and deep consequences on international relations and the global situation. And my opinion is that no one actually wants that. I am sure that before this comes up for discussion [i.e. Serbia’s participation in the sanctions on Russia], these sanctions will be postponed by negotiations and agreements.”
In the West there are two perceptions when it comes to Russia's responsibility for the downing of the Malaysian airplane, said Lazic.
“One is that Russia is, a priori, guilty for that because it is involved in that war by supporting and supplying pro-Russian separatist forces in Ukraine with weapons. But there is another view that Russia cannot be blamed for all that, and that the pressure should be put on the pro-Russian separatists to stop the war.”
The Serbian government will carefully follow unfolding events, because Serbia’s foreign policy directly depends on whether this situation is resolved by agreement, or by further confrontation.