Serbia's Economy Minister speaks for the first time about imposing sanctions against Russia
Serbian Economy Minister Rade Basta created a stir on the political scene in Serbia on Monday with a proposal that Belgrade impose sanctions against Russia, the first such statement by a Serbian government official in favour of sanctions and a departure from Serbia's official position, Croatian news agency HINA reported on Tuesday, cited by Agerpres.
Rade Basta said in a statement that Serbia was already paying a high price for not imposing sanctions against Russia and "this is becoming unsustainable".
The announcement provoked disapproval within the United Serbia party, from whose list the minister joined Ana Brnabic's government, and calls from coalition partners for Basta to resign.
"United Serbia is part of an electoral alliance with the Socialist Party of Serbia led by former foreign minister Ivica Dacic, which has itself been in a coalition with Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party for several election cycles.
Basta said that he, as economy minister, saw the pressure the Serbian president is under from the EU and the international community, although no one was talking about it.
"I cannot accept this," Basta said, adding that that was why he was in favour of imposing sanctions against Russia and that he was "with President Vucic in defending national interests" and had "absolute confidence" in Vucic.
"This is why I call on the Serbian government and all ministers to make a statement on this issue," Rade Basta added.
Serbia itself has faced sanctions throughout its history and that people "have suffered severe economic consequences", he said Belgrade did not take the decision to impose sanctions hoping "that the war will end and reason will prevail and the two sides will sit down at the negotiating table".
The Kremlin reacted to the statement by saying it understands that "Serbian leaders are facing unprecedented pressure from the West" and that it understands President Aleksandar Vucic's position, hoping for further improvement in relations between the two countries.
