Economy Minister Wants Gov’t to Take an Urgent Stand on Sanctions against Russia

Rade Basta (BETAPHOTO/Ministry of Economy/Lasta)

Serbian Economy Minister Rade Basta asked on March 13 that the government urgently take a stand on introducing sanctions against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine.

"Our country is paying a high price for not imposing sanctions against Russia and it's becoming intolerable. As minister of the economy, I'm seeing how much pressure there is on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and I cannot accept us keeping silent. That is why I am for introducing sanctions against Russia. I stand by President Vucic in the defense of state and national interests and I have absolute trust in him," Basta said in a press release.

He added that for that reason he was asking the Serbian government and all ministers individually to give their position on the matter, stating that it was necessary for the government to take a united stand on what direction the country would take.

"Since the beginning of the war, we have been condemning the Russian aggression against Ukraine, while at the same time protecting national interests in relations with the Russian Federation. That is why initially we didn't join the large number of countries that introduced sanctions against the aggressor country. Yet the situation is growing more complex with each day, and Western countries are reproaching Serbia for not joining the sanctions," Basta said.

Dragan Markovic "Palma," president of Unified Serbia, to which Basta belongs, said this was Basta's personal opinion, not the position of the party, which is against imposing sanctions on anyone.