Nikolic: While i am the president, i will always be against sanctions

He stated that he believes that sanctions are the way to influence citizens to change their government, and that this is interference in others' internal affairs, which I guess none of us allow anymore to anyone other

Serbian president Tomislav Nikolic said that while he is the president, he will always be against sanctions to anyone and that European Union can't count on Serbia supporting sanctions whenever Brussels feels like it.

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- While i am the president i will always be against sanctions to anyone - said Nikolic who is in official visit to Czech Republic.

He stated that he believes that sanctions are the way to influence citizens to change their government, and that "this is interference in others' internal affairs, which I guess none of us allow anymore to anyone other".

- EU can't count on Serbia joining sanctions whenever Brussels feels like it - he said.

According to him, the one who introduces sanction, should go to the state where the sanctions are applied and see how ministers, rich and normal people live.

- I was under sanctions of EU and USA, i was forbidden to travel for a very long time and i did not live worse, but people around me have. I was a Member of the Parliament, i had salary, and now when i can travel wherever i want, i only go to official visits, i don't go on vacations abroad, so i did not miss that at all, but i watched the people around me who suffered through sanctions - he added.

Nikolic said that he hinted what could be the problem in the Serbia - EU relationship, and that the is the matter of principle.

He explained that there are two symmetrical situations - Kosovo and Crimea, that EU recognizes Kosovo independence and does not recognize Crimea their right on self-determination, and that Russia does not recognize the Kosovo independence and accepts Crimea right on self-determination.

- Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Serbia and Ukraine, which I think is the only correct attitude. The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia over Crimea, and who introduced sanctions to EU members for bombing Serbia? Or we are not equal in this world, so depending what country you live in and what people you belong, you have more or less rights - said Nikolic.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)