Nikolić: Serbia will never be a member of NATO, nor does it intend to wage war again

If NATO is a defensive alliance, Serbia should not be a member of the Alliance, because no one will attack it, said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, Patria reports.

He added that Serbia is surrounded by NATO members and that it does not intend to wage war ever again.

- NATO attacked and bombed us in 1999 without reason. This had enormous consequences, not only for our economy, but also for the attitude of our citizens towards NATO. I am convinced that I am speaking on behalf of the majority of citizens when I say that Serbia will never be in NATO - Nikolić told Al Jazeera.

He stated that Serbia wants to become a member of the EU, but that there are two conditions it cannot meet, which are to recognize the independence of Kosovo and to be at odds with countries with which the EU is at odds, primarily with Russia.

- 16 years ago, Serbia began its path towards EU membership. We live in unity with both the East and the West - we want to become a member of the Union, and in that sense, it can be said that we cooperate more with the West - said Nikolić.

He added that Serbia has a great friendship with the East, close historical, religious, and linguistic ties with the Russian Federation.

Nikolić says that the problem Serbia has with Kosovo, Ukraine has with Crimea.

- Regarding Kosovo, the EU accepts its independence, Russia does not. When it comes to Crimea, Russia accepts it, and the EU is against it - Nikolić explained.