Lavrov Slams EU, NATO for Not Letting Belgrade Pursue Independent Policy

Sergey Lavrov(BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/MO)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described as unimaginable the situation surrounding his visit to Serbia, adding that having rejected his overflight request the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have effectively stripped Belgrade of its right to carry out a sovereign policy.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Lavrov said that “a sovereign state has been denied the right to pursue an independent foreign policy,” explaining that “Serbia’s international activities towards Russia have been blocked.”

“Western states apparently think that a visit to Serbia is a threat of nearly global proportions, which can only mean that they are failing,” the Russian foreign minister said.

Lavrov also said a decision by Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to ban the flight was “a clear and enlightening demonstration as to how far the EU and NATO can go to, using the lowest of methods to influence those guided by national interests.”

When asked if Russia would respond in any way to the states that had prevented his visit to Serbia, Lavrov said that Moscow “will never to anything to complicate relations between nations.”