During a period of European crisis and distinctive security and political architecture, Serbia plays a highly complex role, stated US Ambassador Christopher Hill at a public debate titled “Changed Geopolitical Environment and Challenges to International Legal Order”, organised by the Council for Strategic Policies and the Bulgarian Embassy.
US Ambassador Christopher Hill emphasised the importance of discussing Serbia’s aspirations, stating, “Serbia must decide its own path. I believe prosperity doesn’t come from the East; that route is constantly under repair, and it remains to be seen when Russia will again manage to reclaim a role that contributes to civilization.”
According to Ambassador Hill, Serbia maintains neutrality between the West and the East, but he believes that the nation aspires to align with the West. “I believe many citizens understand that Serbia has no alternative but to be part of the West. Military neutrality is costly; such nations must finance their own defence as they are not part of a collective system. And that’s expensive, as many things have to be managed independently,” assessed the US Ambassador.
Ambassador Hill pointed out that Serbia is culturally, economically, and politically part of the West, and it’s up to the country to decide which Western aspects it wants to implement. “I know we’ve had issues in the past, but I would like to discuss them as long as necessary, and ultimately about the possibilities of what we can achieve together in the future,” Hill concluded.