PM conveniently focused on issue of subsidies - analyst

PM conveniently focused on issue of subsidies - analyst

BELGRADE -- Political analyst Đorše Vukadinović believes PM Aleksandar Vučić's "decision not to give subsidies for exports to Russia" means he is "fogging the essence."

Vukadinović explauned he believed "the essence of the dispute" was for Brussels not to allow Serbia to make even a small-volume profit "from the sanctions of the European Union toward Moscow."

According to him, "the story about added subsidies (for exports) has been pushed to the forefront somewhat artificially."

He said that the prime minister "conveniently latched onto that formulation, 'additional subsidies', and is in that way attempting what is impossible in the long, and probably also in the mid-term - and that is to sit on two chairs."

"This is an attempt to not jeopardize Serbian economic interests, which are at present quite clear, that we should take advantage of this rare opportunity to increase exports to Russia by tens or hundreds of millions of euros, and on the other hand, not to get Brussels too angry by not following completely their policy of sanctions against Moscow, and that's the point," said Vukadinović.

According to him, Friday's press conference was "very good in terms of political marketing and will satisfy most of the Serbian public," but "few people in Brussels and Moscow will also be satisfied."

"It seems to me that the whole statement shows that the prime minister is aware this strategy will not be able to last long. I think he should have come out stronger, or perhaps say more frankly that the demand coming from Brussels is hypocritical and untenable for Serbia," said Vukadinović.

Another analyst, Vuk Stanković...