By Vestnik Kavkaza
In November Serbia and Russia held joint maneuvers in which 207 Russian troopers and 197 Serbian soldiers of various corps and the military police took part. The joint antiterrorist operation caused concerns in the West, but the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that Serbia is an independent country and has a right to choose a partner for joint maneuvers.
At the same time, Western countries are putting pressure on Serbia, urging it to join the anti-Russian sanctions. Belgrade refuses to do so, stating that even though it is negotiating with the EU on membership, it is not ready to reject development of good relations with Russia.
“Today’s sanctions are nothing in comparison with the sanctions which were launched against the Union Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia… Unfortunately, you know well that in 1992 Russia joined the sanctions against Serbia and Yugoslavia, but we realize that it wasn’t the opinion of the Russian people,” Slavenko Terzic, the ambassador of Serbia to Moscow, stated.
Speaking about the role of the Caucasus for Serbia and himself, Slavenko Terzic told Vestnik Kavkaza: “The Caucasus issue is very difficult. It has its own geopolitical, civilizational, and religious aspects. We are interested in the stability of the region. If the Caucasus is stable, not only will Russia be stable, but also Central Asia. I think the situation in the Caucasus must not be used for destabilizing any country. Serbia has normal relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Recently our president visited Armenia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. I think the relationships are based on principles of mutual respect and the interests of all sides.”
Terzic also said that he “is interested in the Caucasus as well”: “First of all, these are civilizational points, the meeting of cultures, civilizations, ethnic groups. It is very interesting for me, as I am a scientist, a historian. I haven’t been to the Caucasus, only to Sochi. I would like to visit the North Caucasus – Dagestan, Ingushetia. I would like to see the ethnic groups, cultures and civilization of the North Caucasus. I am interested in it.”
