Botsan Kharchenko: I hope Serbia will not impose sanctions

Photo: Tanjug/Jadranka Ilic

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Aleksandr Botsan Kharchenko says that Moscow hopes that Serbia will not change its position regarding sanctions against Russia.

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The ambassador told Radio Television Vojvodina that "sanctions are not a friendly step, especially not sanctions of such dimensions" and expressed hope that Serbia will not join sanctions against Russia.

He said that this hope is "quite firm, based on statements made at the highest level."

"The most important thing is for Serbia not to join sanctions against Russia and be persistent, act with dignity, and with respect for its national interests," said the Russian ambassador.

Speaking about Serbia's voting in the United Nations, Botsan Kharchenko said that the European Union and Washington are pressuring and threatening Serbia, and that they interpret the steps that Serbia has taken as a consequence of that pressure.

He also said that, given the brotherly and strategic relations with Serbia, Russia understands the sort of pressure that is exerted on Belgrade.

Asked about gas, Botsan Kharchenko said that it is one of the most important topics, that preparations for negotiations regarding gas supply and price are underway and that there is no doubt that Russia will take into account that Serbia is a friendly country with which it has strategic relations.

"It will be taken into account that Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Russia, but market conditions must also be taken into account," said Botsan Kharchenko.

When it comes to Kosovo, he said that Russia's position will not change, and that Moscow believes that Kosovo is a precedent while Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk are different issues compared to Kosovo, Radio Television Vojvodina is reporting.

(Telegraf.rs)