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Serbian Parliament Speaker Promises Russia: No Sanctions


The speaker of Serbia's parliament has promised Russia that the Balkan nation will never impose sanctions on Moscow.

Serbia is seeking to join the European Union, but has not followed the EU in hitting Russia with sanctions targeting officials and companies in response to Moscow's interference in Ukraine.

Speaking in Moscow on December 22, Serbian National Assembly President Maja Gojkovic assured Russian lawmakers that Serbia's position would not change.

She said Serbia's "strategic decision" to join the EU "is not and will not be an impediment to further development of fraternal
relations with Russia."

"Serbia will never impose sanctions on Russia because sanctions have never done any good to anyone and cannot help
resolve any problems," said.

The EU enlargement negotiations commissioner, Johannes Hahn, indicated last month that Serbia's failure to join sanctions was not a formal obstacle to progress in its EU membership bid, but said Serbia "should progressively align its foreign policy position to the EU's."

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS

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