Commerce Minister Remains in Favor of Sanctions Against Russia

Rade Basta (BETAPHOTO/Ministry of Economy/Lasta)

Serbian Minister for Commerce Rade Basta announced in an Instagram post on March 15 that the trivialization of his clear stance on the issue of imposing sanctions on Russia testified that many in Serbia were unaware of the situation the country is in, stressing that he was not a “sleeper” of the Serbian Progressive Party.

“My stance is clear, I stand with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in the defense of state and national interests, I think on my own and am serious and courageous enough to declare my stance,” Basta wrote. He pointed out that the thesis about him being a “sleeper” of the Progressive Party, as stated in the media, was unnecessary in this political moment.

On March 13, the commerce minister requested the government to urgently take the stance on introducing sanctions against Russia for aggression against Ukraine. “Our country is already paying a huge price for not imposing sanctions on Russia and it is becoming unbearable. As the minister for commerce, I cannot accept to look how much pressure Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is exposed to, while we stay silent. That is why I am in favor of imposing sanctions against Russia, I stand with President Vucic in the defense of state and national interests and have absolute confidence in him,” Basta declared in that statement.