Dacic: Of the six regional representatives in Bled, four are Albanians, and there is talk of Serbia's influence in the Balkans

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, said today that Serbia unquestionably wanted to become a member of the European Union, but it is an independent country that leads an independent policy, condemns the attack on Ukraine, but expects others to condemn the violation of its territorial integrity.

When asked by the audience, at the panel within the Bled Strategic Forum, whether Serbia, given that it is "oriented to the east", would join the Shanghai Organization before the EU, Dacic replied with a question - does anyone really believe that.

"You are telling fairy tales, that we will join BRICS, the Shanghai Organization... Then listen to those who tell you fairy tales. That is not realistic, Serbia is in Europe, we want to become a member. That is normal," said Dacic, stating that , if Serbia didn't want it, would that mean that Great Britain is "not normal" either.

To the remark about "Eastern orientation", he replied that anyone could say it, but the Western countries with China, Russia and others from the East have a million times bigger turnover than Serbia.

He said that Serbia was an independent country that took care of state and national interests.
"We condemn the attack on Ukraine, the violation of its territorial integrity, as we expect you to condemn the violation of our territorial integrity. When you talk about a common foreign policy, is it normal when others do not respect that policy? When Pristina opens an embassy in Jerusalem, then is that normal? When the flags of 'Greater Albania' are flying in Tetovo, is that normal? Then no announcements are made...", noted Dacic.

He added that of the six representatives of the region in Bled, four were Albanians - the representatives of Tirana, Pristina, the head of Macedonian diplomacy, Bujar Osmani, and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic:

"Oh, you are talking about Serbia's influence in the Balkans," stated Dacic.

He added that he agreed with Slovenian Minister Tanja Fajon that Serbia should do something, but that it should be told exactly what it should do.

"We listened to it-  overthrow Milosevic, and what happened after? We arrested Milosevic, Karadzic, Mladic... You from Brussels said that Kosovo and the EU were two paths... What should we do? What you wrote in the criteria is not enough for the chapters, don't be naive. Albania has 100 percent accession, so they are not doing well..." said Dacic.

He repeated that Serbia was absolutely committed to the EU, adding that "it is no more east-oriented than Slovenia", recalling that several years ago Vladimir Putin visited that country.