Milos Vucevic: Serbia cannot be humiliated in order to become part of the EU

Mayor Vucevic was at the conference, "EU as a Strategic Choice"

Photo: Nikola Tomic

Mayor of Novi Sad has attended the conference "European Union as a Strategic Choice - Experiences of Serbia and Romania" and analyzed Serbia's experience in the European integration process, presenting all the things the country has been encountering along the way.

"I explained how difficult Serbia's position is, and you will agree that it has never been easy, starting with the issue of borders - in the early '90s we had the principle that the borders of the former Yugoslavia can be changed while the borders of its republics could not. Then in '98, ’99,  the principle was that the borders of one republic can be changed - and that is Serbia. Then, we heard the principle where the borders of what some call the republic of Kosovo also cannot be changed, so there is no possibility of agreement regarding the territory of Kosovo and Metohija.

Then followed the principle that Bosnia and Herzegovina should be centralized, and Serbia decentralized. And the position of Serbia in all these various and different principles is very difficult. That is why I pointed out that we need a more equal position. It's also difficult not to connect the issue of sanctions against Russia and tomorrow, perhaps against another member of the Security Council, with the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. Speaking on behalf of my country, I explained that we have clearly condemned everything that is happening in Ukraine and underlined that we recognize territorial integrity of Ukraine.

But I wonder, what about our territorial integrity? Someone opened Pandora’s box in '98, ’99, and then in 2008, but since it was in little Serbia, in the stormy Balkans, it would very quickly be closed. The European Union is the greatest guardian of peace in Europe since the Second World War, it is its greatest success, even if we exclude culture and economic benefits. We unequivocally strive toward it because it is the roof of Europe's success, but our position must be respected," stressed Vucevic.

(Telegraf.rs)