British Embassy: Serbia Is Not a Proxy Though Some Elements Are Acting in Russia's Interest

BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV

Great Britain does not think that Serbia is a "Russia proxy state" but that some elements in the country are acting directly in Russia's interest, the British Embassy told the BETA news agency in Belgrade on Jan. 11.

"We believe there are elements in Serbia that are acting directly in the interest of Russia by threatening stability and the region's democratic capacities. Serbia is an independent, sovereign state. The United Kingdom has been cooperating with Serbia for a long time on a string of joint priorities and will continue to do so," the Embassy said after a statement by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to British parliament's foreign committee.

On Jan. 10 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was disappointed by Cameron's statement and added that "Serbia is not a proxy to Russia, nor the U.S, nor Britain, nor Germany, nor anyone else, but an independent country."

The British Embassy told BETA that Cameron was "indicating elements inside of Serbia who are believed to be directly working in Russia's interest, and not the Serbia state itself." "Serbia is an independent sovereign country and we welcome the Serbian government's clear position regarding its opposition to the war in Ukraine. We will continue to encourage Serbia to conduct sanctions against Russia. Maybe we do not fully agree, but we welcome regular dialogue with the Serbian Cabinet on this question," the Embassy stressed.