RFE: Serbia votes against UN resolution on Crimea

The move could further distance Belgrade from adjusting its foreign policy to that of Brussels which is a must if the country wants to join the bloc.

Serbia has so far not recognised Crimea as a part of Russia, neither Ukraine has recognised the independence of Kosovo, and relations between Belgrade and Kyiv remained good., 

According to RFE, the resolution passed on December 7, "calls on Russia as an occupying power to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its military forces from Crimea and without delay end its temporary occupation of Ukrainian territory."

Also, official Moscow is asked to immediately stop "further destabilisation of Crimea by transferring developed systems of weapons, planes and missiles with nuclear capacity, weapons, ammunition and military personnel to the territory of Ukraine."

Sixty-three countries voted in favour of the resolution, 17 were against, while 62 countries abstained.

The resolution was supported, among others, by the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France.

Apart from Serbia, Russia, Cuba, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan voted against.

All countries bordering Serbia supported the resolution, except Bosnia and Herzegovina, which abstained.

The text of the resolution is not binding, but it has political weight. It was proposed by 40 countries, including European Union countries, the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and Turkey.