State Department: Decision to block Lavrov’s trip reflects commitment to hold Russia accountable

The United States has said that the decision by Bulgaria, Montenegro and North Macedonia to ban Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s plane from passing through its airspace, resulting in the cancellation of a visit to Serbia, reflects commitment of Europe to hold Russia responsible for aggression against Ukraine.

“This reflects Europe’s commitment to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked and unwarranted aggression in Ukraine”, said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price in response to questions of VOA.

The Russian chief diplomat had planned a two-day visit to Serbia starting on Monday.

He described as unprecedented the decision of Serbia’s three neighbors that are members of NATO.

“I know there will be many explanations which we have not heard yet. The countries that have denied the flight will say that they have received an order from the European Union and NATO.

They in the meanwhile will say that these countries have decided for themselves”, he said at the press conference.

Mr Price said the three countries’ action was a sovereign decision of sovereign countries and stressed that they are alliance countries.

“All three countries are members of NATO and the commitment under Article Five (of NATO) to these countries is unwavering.

“Only yesterday we marked the fifth anniversary of Montenegro’s membership in NATO and in March the second anniversary of North Macedonia’s membership,” he said.

Minister Lavrov said that no one will be able to destroy Russia’s relations with Serbia.

“However, these relations will not disappear from other channels. We invited Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic to visit Moscow shortly.

I hope his plane is not embarrassingly sanctioned by the shameless Brussels and his clients “, said Minister Lavrov.

But the State Department Spokesperson called on Serbia to focus on the goal of EU membership.

“We call on Serbia to focus on its stated goal of EU membership, including the harmonization of its foreign and security policies with the rest of Europe,” he said.

Mr Price said the United States had repeatedly urged Serbia “to take steps that contribute to advancing its European path, including diversifying its energy resources to reduce its energy dependence on the Russian Federation and to align its foreign and security policy with the EU”.

“We have worked and continue to work to be Serbia’s partner to assist in its efforts to increase energy security in the long run,” said the Spokesperson.

The announcement of the Russian Minister’s visit followed the agreement of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a new three-year contract for gas supplies from Russia.

The Serbian President says he is aiming for his country’s membership in the European Union, but has worked for years to strengthen ties with Russia and has so far refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow over its aggression in Ukraine.

The Serbian President said he was not surprised by what happened with the cancellation of the Russian Minister’s visit, but expressed dissatisfaction with what he called the “atmosphere”, noting that he had never seen “such hysteria against Serbia”.

He added that the ban on the flight of the Russian Foreign Minister’s plane was not very surprising, but the problem was with “small countries, which are aware that they can do nothing to Russia, so they want to vent on Serbia”. /VOA