In an interview with the Voice of America, VOA, Montenegro foreign minister, Srdjan Darmanovic, told Russia has been striving towards greater influence in the Western Balkans, while the European Union (EU) represents the main target of its foreign policy.
“Russian influence has already been active in our region, unfortunately it’s the one not in favor of the Atlantic and European integrations. This was evident in our own case two years ago. Russia doesn’t declare openly as an European integration opponent, but I think the chief target of the Russian foreign policy is the EU, as this all is about a geopolitical fight which doesn’t mean the countries themselves do not cooperate, especially in economic terms,” Darmanović said.
Russia doesn’t openly disagree with the European integration of the Western Balkans, according to him. “But you see, it wants to have influence in each one of them in various ways, that is, in terms of economy or by encouraging hybrid warfare. This is why I believe the EU must be more active if it wants the Western Balkans to become part of Europe.”
Minister Darmanović also hopes Montenegro will open its last negotiation chapter with the EU during the Romanian presidency, and that the upcoming European elections won’t affect the enlargement policy.
