Vucic: No bypassing of Russia sanctions through Serbian territory

BELGRADE - No one can bypass the EU sanctions on Russia through Serbian territory, and Serbia is reacting to such attempts and penalising them since it needs no extra profit as its economy is strong enough, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Oliver Varhelyi, Vucic said he had understood the EU enlargement commissioner's remarks regarding alignment of Serbia's foreign policy with the EU, but added that he had told Varhelyi no one was able to bypass the sanctions on Russia through Serbian territory. Expressing gratitude and respect for any EU assistance, especially when it comes to funds and know-how,

Vucic said he had never made a secret of the Serbian citizens' gratitude to EU taxpayers for financially supporting the development of Serbia.

"That is why I am particularly happy about the agreements on financial support until 2027," Vucic said. He said the meeting with Varhelyi had also addressed support in the energy sector, and once again thanked the EU for the crucial 165 mln euro budgetary support due by the end of this year.

Vucic said they had also discussed further energy diversification in Serbia, possibilities for procurement of additional quantities of natural gas from Azerbaijan, expediting works on a Serbia-Bulgaria gas interconnector, access to LNG terminals and a Serbia-North Macedonia interconnector.

"We discussed many strategic things, as well as projects we are already involved in together with the EU, such as a Belgrade-Nis high-speed rail line."

He said rule of law had also been discussed and announced that Serbia's European Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic and Justice Minister Maja Popovic would work on a package of amendments aimed at alignment with EU law.

"I believe we can make additional progress on media freedoms, rule of law, democratisation of society and everything else," he said.