Original article (in Serbian) was published on 02/03/2022
It happened. Great Britain gave Serbia recognition for its attitude towards the Ukrainian crisis”, the website Srpski telegraf (Serbian telegraph) reported, claiming that Britain had “praised” Vucic’s balanced policy towards Moscow and Kyiv. The Serbian telegraph concluded this based on the text by the British ambassador to Serbia – Sian Macleod, written for the daily newspaper “Nova”. Apart from omitting where the ambassador’s text was published, the tabloid also left out the part in which she points out that she hopes that Serbia will condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the text by Serbian telegraph, there was room only for quotes in which Macleod diplomatically welcomed the fact that Serbia supported the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“I welcome the fact that Serbia has publicly expressed concern over the tragic situation in Ukraine and support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and principles of international law and international obligations, as well as for promising humanitarian support”, the Serbian telegraph quoted the ambassador, stating that she wrote this in her text, but it did not reveal where the text was published.
The Serbian telegraph also omits the sentence that continues, in which Ambassador Mcleod calls on Serbia to join the sanctions against Russia.
“I hope that Serbia will join the huge number of countries which, in the UN and other international organizations, condemn this unprovoked attack”, the British Ambassador to Serbia, Sian Mcleod, wrote yesterday. In the author’s text for the newspaper “Nova”, the ambassador expressed her position regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Serbia’s attitude towards the events in Eastern Europe.
The following quote, which the Serbian telegraph singles out as an argument that “such praise came from London”, is also diplomatic and more positive towards Serbia.
“Serbia is a friend of Russia and Ukraine. I understand why Belgrade did not want to be between Moscow and Kyiv, but when it comes to simple issues, such as the difference between what is right and what is wrong, the most difficult messages can best be conveyed by friends”.
Again, the Serbian telegraph avoids quoting the continuation of the text in which Mcleod is “harsher” towards Serbia’s policy regarding the current situation in Ukraine.
“I hope and want to believe that Serbia will use its friendship with Russia to make it clear to Putin that Belgrade cannot support him in this catastrophic mistake. This can be a crucial moment for your country, to show international leadership and help end this unnecessary conflict, destruction and loss of life”, the British ambassador concluded in a part of the text omitted by the Serbian telegraph.
This morning, Republika.rs also published an identical text with a different title – “WHO WOULD EXPECT IT?! A shocking message arrived from London to Belgrade – DISBELIEF!”
In both headlines, the personal position of the ambassador is presented as the position of official London.
The United Kingdom is among the countries that have condemned the attack on Ukraine and has imposed numerous sanctions on Russia.
On February 25, President Aleksandar Vucic announced that Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity but will not impose sanctions on Russia because it is “guided exclusively by the protection of its vital economic and political interests”.