Dacic: Principled policy best protector of Serbian interests

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday Serbia's policy, based on the principles of international law, had proved to be the correct one as it had preserved the national economy, the citizens' living standards and the country's international position.

Dacic was speaking at the opening of the second day of the 22nd Belgrade Economic Forum. "Serbia has friends and partners in all parts of the world who respect the fact we are looking after ourselves, primarily with respect of international rules.

That has demonstrated strength and vitality and, for that reason, we will continue to pursue such a policy in the future as well," Dacic said.

Dacic said Serbia was not the cause of global problems but that the problems had come to it and needed to be resolved. "The way we are resolving them sets Serbia apart from many others in Europe, just like our approach to the pandemic was better compared to others in Europe," Dacic said.

He reiterated Serbia would continue to pursue a principled policy of support to the territorial integrity of Ukraine and non-imposition of sanctions on Russia as that policy had turned out to be the best way of protecting Serbia's political and economic interests amid the global crisis.

Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic said the Serbian government would focus on energy independence and stability through diversification of energy supply sources and investing in local capacities.

She noted that Serbia would build new gas pipelines to Bulgaria and North Macedonia, an oil pipeline to Hungary and electric power links to Montenegro, Romania and other EU member states.