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Russia doesn’t want Serbian accession to EU to harm its relations with Moscow

Serbian exports to Russia annually amount to $800 million, and the sides have a free trade agreement

CACAK, Serbia, February 21 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia does not object to Serbia’s accession to the European Union but Belgrade must decide which price it is ready to pay, Russian Ambassador Alexander Konuzin told Serbian businessmen and representatives of the Cacak city administration and parliament on Tuesday.

“We would not like [Serbia] to pay for its accession to the European Union with the worsening of relations with Russia,” he said.

Serbian exports to Russia annually amount to $800 million, and the sides have a free trade agreement, he said.

“Russia is the only country with which Belgrade has signed such an agreement. If Serbia joins the EU, your new friends will not allow you to use this agreement in the future,” he said.

The affiliation to the European Union must bring benefits to Serbia in the first turn and must not harm its relations with Moscow, Konuzin said.