Vucic for "Financial Times": They are more honest now

President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic stated this, adding that the only responsible approach is to rely on ourselves.
Such a decision, despite reform efforts taken by Albania and Northern Macedonia, made it clear to the region that "it is not all up to us", Vucic said in an interview given to the Financial Times, entitled "Balkan nations bank on regional ties after EU snub".
"They always said, 'It all depends on you, on the pace of your reforms ... Now they are fairer. At least they say, it's not up to you", Vucic said, and then asked:
"What can I do, cry and embark on hunger strike in front of the Berlaymont building?", implying to the office building in Brussels which houses the headquarters of the European Commission.
"I will not do this, no one will do it", President Vucic said.
Vucic sees EU's refusal to start accession talks with the two Balkan countries as vindication of Belgrade's closer links to Russia and China.
Belgrade, as noted by a prominent British newspaper, is ready to sign a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Union on Friday and is also in favor of further regional integration.
"We have to take care of ourselves. That's the only way, that's the only approach. Anything else would be irresponsible", Vucic said.
The British newspaper notes that such comments could reinforce fears that the EU is losing influence in the Balkans since Union leaders did not agree to start talks with Skopje and Tirana at a summit last week.
President Vucic also said that the Balkans should do much more to strengthen regional co-operation.
"We cannot depend on the next decision of the European Council or on whether the Dutch government will decide this way or that, or whether the Danish government will do...