Serbia's mission to the UN has changed its vote in the UN General Assembly on the resolution on Ukraine, which confirms support for Kiev and the territorial integrity of the country and condemns Russia, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said in an interview with the Serbian publication NIN, BTA reported.
Serbia supported the resolution, but then President Aleksandar Vucic said there was a mistake in the voting and apologized to Serbian citizens for this.
Djuric specified in an interview with NIN that the Serbian mission to the UN has changed the vote to “abstain“ in the UN Secretariat, and this puts an end to this topic. When asked what happened at the UN during the vote on the Ukrainian resolution submitted by Kiev's European allies condemning Russia, he said that the responsibility lies primarily with him.
“I am extremely open on this topic and, when it is in the country's interest, extremely self-critical. On the international stage, Serbia adheres above all to the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. On seven previous occasions, we voted for texts that were even harsher, all in accordance with the conclusions of the National Security Council of February 2022. At that time, it was determined that for the Serbian position in the UN, the supreme principle is the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty of recognized states“, he said.
On February 24, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming support for Ukraine and its territorial integrity. Two versions of the resolution are being voted on – American, which contains a call for a quick end to the war and in which Russia is not characterized as an aggressor, and the one prepared by Ukraine and its European allies. When voting on the first resolution, Serbia voted “abstained”, and supported the second. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic immediately said afterwards that Serbia had made a mistake in supporting the second resolution, NIN recalls.