Foreign Minister: EU Membership Remains Serbia’s Strategic Goal

Marko Djuric (mfa.gov.rs)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said on Sept. 14 that "membership in the European Union remains" Serbia's strategic goal, but that the country was "developing partnerships with BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] countries, the U.S., Russia and other actors at the same time."

"Military neutrality and openness to cooperation allow us to balance between relations with the East and West, diversify economic ties and leverage our geostrategic position for bridge-building," Djuric told the Politika daily in an interview. He said "the world is becoming increasingly multipolar and Serbia sees that as an opportunity, not a threat."

On the topic of Serbian citizens' attitudes toward EU membership, he said "the slower pace of enlargement and political conditions, especially those related to Kosovo and Metohija, sometimes engender a feeling of disappointment."

Djuric stressed that Serbia valued Russia's support in international forums when it came to preserving the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially regarding Kosovo and Metohija. "At the same time, we have clearly expressed that our priority is preserving peace and stability, and that sanctions are not a method that we consider efficient for that purpose," he said.