EU Ambassadors: We know we can count on Serbia

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European Union member state ambassadors in Belgrade said that the Union knows it can count on Serbia’s hospitality and compassion for the Ukrainians fleeing from the war in their country.

The ambassadors wrote an opinion piece for Nedeljnik weekly recalling that a huge number of people have left their homes in Ukraine because their situation has become unbearable and even lethal. “More than 2.5 million people have fled the illegal Russian invasion and there are more every day,” the piece said adding that this is the worst refugee crisis in Europe since WW 2.

“The humanitarian crisis was caused solely by the unprovoked Russian invasion and it is separating families and expelling people,” the ambassadors said.

They said that a smaller number of people are getting ready to leave their homes in Russia because they oppose the war, some fearing the new oppressive laws sanctioning alternative messages about the war in Ukraine or fearing being sent to war. They said that their thoughts are with the thousands of protesters who have been arrested. According to them, the invasion in not just about Ukraine but about the security and stability of the world and future generations. “Serbia is part of the international community and a candidate for EU membership,” they said.

Serbia has demonstrated its commitment by saying that it will align with the EU decision to offer Ukrainians fleeing the conflict temporary protection for a year. Serbia is part of this mechanism of solidarity which it has benefited from in the past, primarily through aid in fighting COVID-19 or dealing with the 2015 migrant crisis, the piece said. “The EU and Serbia have been partners in providing humanitarian aid to refugees in several crises for years,” it said.

The ambassadors recalled Serbia’s years of experience in helping refugees since the wars in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and the regional housing program for refugees and displaced persons financed by the EU for more than 6,000 families in Serbia as well as the aid to migrants in 2015. “We witnessed a praiseworthy approach to people in trouble. Serbia and the EU are reliable partners in managing migrations, committed to cooperation and regional stability,” they said.

“We are seeing the good will and solidarity of the people of Serbia in the current humanitarian crisis once again… Considering Serbia’s experience and results we are convinced that the government will create conditions to take in a significant number of Ukrainian refugees. The fact that Serbia can offer the same standards as the EU in terms of legal status and rights for migrants and refugees is the result of reforms of the migration management and asylum system over the past few years,” the ambassadors said.

“We know we can count on Serbia and that the Ukrainian people fleeing from the horrors of war can count on Serbia’s hospitality and compassion. We will do everything we can to back Serbia in providing support for the Ukrainians because they are leaving their homes to survive,” the ambassadors said.