Izvor: N1 televizija, 14.Maj.2018, 09:52 (ažurirano 02.Apr.2020.)
Serbia’s relations with Russia important, NATO PA chief says
Serbia’s good relations with Russia are important but we look on it as a Western country, NATO Parliamentary Assembly President Paolo Alli told Radio Free Europe on Monday.
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organisation separate from the Alliance, which brings together legislators from NATO member states and 12 other countries, including Serbia and Russia.
“It’s important >> Pročitaj celu vest na sajtu N1 televizija << for Serbia to maintain good relations with Russia and the West. Serbia’s application for membership in the European Union is evidence that the country is turned towards Europe, towards the West. The Western Balkans is of crucial importance to completing the EU project. Europe will not be complete without the Balkans,” Alli said.
Asked if Serbia can maintain the political balance in the long term, the NATO PA President said that he is interested in reality. “I am an engineer and I am interested in numbers and reality. Seventy percent of Serbia’s trade is with the EU, 20 percent with the countries of the Western Balkans and just 10 percent with everyone else. Serbia’s trade with Russia accounts for just a few percent of overall trade which means that Serbia’s real ties to Russia are not as important as with the West,” Alli said.
We appreciate the fact that Serbia is maintaining a balance by having good relations with Russia on one side and excellent cooperation with NATO on the other,” Alli said. “We view Serbia as a Western country,” Alli said and added that it’s up to Serbia to take a political decision on whether to join the Alliance or not. “We respect Serbia’s decision not be a NATO member because we understand that this is the mood of the citizens and we appreciate the fact that the country cooperates with NATO on security issues,” he said.
Alli said Serbia is very important for the security of the Western Balkans and to NATO because it is a very stable country compared to others in the region. He said the best way to solve the Kosovo problem is through political means. “Kosovo needs security and stability. NATO and KFOR are part of that stability,” the NATO PA president said.
