FM Selakovic: Attempts Being Made to Discipline Serbia

Nikola Selakovic (BETAPHOTO/FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY)

Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic has said that the attacks Serbia has been subject to since he signed a foreign ministry consultation plan with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, represent “attempts to discipline Serbia and its principled foreign policy.”

“The point isn’t what has been signed. There was no political conspiracy or evil intent involved. [The document signed] has no legal value – we’ve signed the same [kind of treaty] with many other countries throughout the world,” Selakovic told Happy TV on Sept. 28.

Commenting on Serbia’s refusal to recognize the referendums on joining Russia held in four Ukrainian territories, Selakovic said that international law is “clear” regarding the legality of such votes.

“Abandoning our principled position would be [the equivalent of] shooting ourselves in the foot, [of] dismissing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. [Our] position is rational [and] reasonable. How else could we defend our position that Kosovo should remain a part of Serbia?” Selakovic stated.

The foreign minister further said that Serbia has not introduced sanctions on Russia based on an equally rational approach.

Asked about the probability of Russia being cast out of the U.N. or stripped of its veto power within the U.N. Security Council, Selakovic replied that numerous people have voiced such suggestions, which “indicates that someone is clearly thinking in that direction.”

“For us, it is essential that Russia remain part of the U.N. Security Council, where it has been supporting our interests with regards to Kosovo. Without [Russia], our situation would be dismal,” Selakovic concluded.