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Moscow says NATO agreement with Serbia attempt to draw it into orbit of influence

Last Friday, Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said the issue on Serbia’s joining the North-Atlantic Alliance was not on the agenda

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Ratification of a logistical support agreement between Serbia and NATO is an attempt of the alliance to incorporate a maximum number of countries into the orbit of its influence, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"We paid attention to the ratification by the Serbian parliament of an agreement between the government of Serbia and NATO's Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO) that took place these days," Zakharova told reporters.

The diplomat said Russia’s position on the alliance’s intention to develop and extend ties with partner states is well known. "We believe this intention is rather persistent," she said.

"And we also see here first of all NATO’s attempts by any means to draw a maximum amount of countries into the orbit of its geopolitical influence," the diplomat stressed.

"In this context, we especially note that Serbia’s official position remains unchanged that is confirmed by the government of Aleksandar Vucic on Belgrade’s commitment to military neutrality," she said.

Last Friday, Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said the issue on Serbia’s joining the North-Atlantic Alliance was not on the agenda. "Serbia is not going to join NATO," Terzic said. "This issue is not discussed in Belgrade."

The diplomat also stressed that Serbia was not planning to join any other military alliances.