Meshkov: EU should not pressure Western Balkans into choosing between EU, Russia

(Hina) - The European Union should not use the ambitions of Western Balkan countries to join it to force them to choose between Europe and Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said in Dubrovnik on Saturday at the end of the 9th Croatia Forum

(Hina) - The European Union should not use the ambitions of Western Balkan countries to join it to force them to choose between Europe and Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said in Dubrovnik on Saturday at the end of the 9th Croatia Forum.

The countries of the region should not be asked to choose between Europe and Russia, and the integration of the Western Balkans should not create a new demarcation line in Europe, he said.

In the context of the events in Ukraine, the EU should not pressure Western Balkan countries into joining in the sanctions against Russia, and it is also unacceptable to pressure them into recognising forcibly drawn borders, Meshkov said.

Russia is for integration and is itself in an integration process, he said, adding that more integration and cooperation in Europe was necessary. He recalled President Vladimir Putin's idea of a common economic and humanitarian area.

The EU integration of the countries in the region is a good thing, but the situation in some countries is unstable or unpredictable, Meshkov said.

Which country will be the next to join the EU will depend on the EU and the aspirants, but it is unlikely to happen in the near future, he added.

He also commented on US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Niland's statement at the Croatia Forum yesterday that Croatia should make smart decisions in the energy sector.

Nobody here doubts the importance of setting up additional energy supply routes from Russia to Europe. One of the most important tasks is the development of cross-border infrastructure projects such as the South Stream gas pipeline, Meshkov said.

He regretted that there was still a political approach to such an important project, recalling that EU-Russia dialogue on the legal and technical aspects of South Stream had been literally blocked.

We expect the partners in the countries of the region to be more active in the dialogue with the European Commission regarding South Stream, or they will lose the chance for big investments and thousands of jobs, he said, recalling that Austria's OMW had clearly committed to the project.

At a round table on the Western Balkans and the EU, he let it be known that Russia was maximally open to cooperation with Western Balkan countries and that Russia and the EU could develop projects in this region together.

On Tuesday, Dubrovnik will host the presidents of the countries of the Brdo-Brijuni Process. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the guest of honour.

On Monday, Cavtat will host the Summit 100, a meeting of Southeast European business leaders.

Press releases