Vulin: Serbia among friends in BRICS

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM Aleksandar Vulin said on Monday BRICS inspired the hope a more just world was possible, and added that it was an organisation of free countries that were imposing no conditions on Serbia and that it would be irresponsible not to explore opportunities that were presenting themselves.

Speaking to the RTS, Vulin said countries like China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa or the UAE had imposed no conditions whatsoever on Serbia.

"No one has said 'recognise Kosovo', Russia has not requested that we introduce sanctions against the EU, China has not requested that we change our electoral legislation, and India has not requested that we legalise homosexual marriages," said Vulin, who headed a Serbian delegation at a recent BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia.

He said that, instead, Serbia was expected to be what it was - to "conduct an independent policy and do as it suits us."

He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin, too, had always said that what was good for Serbia was also good for Russia.

Serbia is among friends in BRICS, Vulin noted, adding that the Serbian delegation had been met with great hospitality in Kazan.