( Observer Network ) "Sometimes we ask ourselves why Serbian 's territorial integrity has not been respected all the time."
On a "goodwill trip" interpreted as an intentional battle for influence with China and Russia, European Commission Chairman von der Leyen again "beat" Serbian President Vucc on the 28th local time about sanctions against Russia, but received a sharp response from the latter on the spot. Vucic also took out the Kosovo issue, accusing EU of having "double standards" on territorial integrity issues.
At the press conference that day, Vucic also responded to the inquiry in front of von der Leyen that Serbia will maintain its consistent good relations with China and maintain a principled position on the issue of Ukraine.
"Russia Today": The EU puts pressure on Serbia on "common values"
Comprehensive Associated Press and many Russian media and Serbian media reported that von der Leyen "twist of whirlwind visits" six places in the Western Balkans starting on Wednesday (26th), and announced that the EU will allocate 500 million euros to help it cope with the energy crisis . The Associated Press said this was to ensure that this region, which has historically been known as the "European powder keg", will not choose hostile Russia or strategic rival China.
On Friday (28th), local time, von der Leyen flew to the southern Serbian city of Nishi , and jointly inspected the under-construction Bulgaria pipeline hub leading to Serbia. The construction, built with the assistance of the EU, costs more than 70 million euros and is expected to be completed in September 2023.
Vucic said this hub is important for the diversification of Serbia's natural gas supply sources. Von der Leyen also said he hopes the project "further get closer to each other" and improves Serbia's energy security.
Image source: "The Future of Serbia" Instagram account
Image source: von der Leyen Twitter account
In addition, von der Leyen also announced on the same day that the EU will provide Serbia with an additional 165 million euros of energy subsidy, and invited Belgrade to join the EU's joint gas procurement program. She said that further EU investment in the Western Balkans is “critical” as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict redefined the European security landscape. She also promised Vucic that “the EU is and will continue to be Serbia’s most important political and economic partner.”
Vucic expressed his gratitude to the EU for its “huge support and assistance”. He said: "When someone gives you money without asking for any return, you have to say thank you."
He also emphasized that the EU's support on energy projects "beyond expectations" and "I want to thank every support from Europe."
At the same time, von der Leyen also continued to attack Vucic with "common values" at the joint press conference and put pressure on him to join the camp of sanctions against Russia. She told reporters: "It is important that (Serbia) is aligned with our diplomatic and security policies. Finally joining the EU means we share values."
"Russia Today" (RT) pointed out that this sentence has long been used by Brussels to suggest that Belgrade should adopt EU sanctions against Russia, but Vucic has always refused to do so.
, and Vucic responded sharply in disguise when mentioning the Kosovo issue, saying that Serbia has always supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, but the EU has always had "double standards" on territorial integrity. "Sometimes we ask ourselves why Serbia's territorial integrity has not been respected all the time."
Kosovo is the autonomous province of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and was trusted by the United Nations after the end of the Kosovo War in June 1999. Among the 27 EU member states, 22 countries recognize their independence, and the EU has also made Kosovo recognition as one of the conditions for Serbia's final joining.
Vucic also said that Serbia understands von der Leyen's meaning and said it will be consistent with the EU's visa policy.The EU has previously reported that Belgrade allows immigrants from Burundi , Cuba , India, Tunisian and Turkey to enter, and these people will then enter EU countries and demand asylum.
Image source: Serbia Yugoslavia News Agency
On the same day, a reporter mentioned at a press conference that regarding the West's possible sanctions on Russia, Daniel Severl, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, recently expressed his opinion that he expected Serbia to insist on refusing to join the stance of sanctions on Russia, and for Serbia, turning to China is more "realistic and feasible" than turning to the West.
Regarding this "disagreement", Vucic emphasized at the press conference that Serbia must not only follow the European path, but also maintain traditional friendly relations with China.
"This person also said that we pose a danger to the region. We are just waiting to launch an attack 250 days ago according to the order of Putin , but this has not happened until now." He said, "I have listened, read, and read too many meaningless conversations and lies about Serbia in many Western countries, and have not heard any apology."
"We told our Chinese friends that we are taking the European path and we have no problems with it." Vucic finally concluded: "We will continue to follow the European path, maintain our traditional friendly relations with China, and adhere to the principled position on the Ukrainian conflict ."
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