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Make New Friends But Keep the Old: Serbs Favor Russia Despite EU Hopes

© AP Photo / Darko VojinovicProtesters hold a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a protest against NATO in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016
Protesters hold a picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a protest against NATO in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016 - Sputnik International
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Many residents of the Serbian province of Vojvodina first and foremost have a positive attitude toward Russia, according to a recent poll conducted by the research company Ipsos Strategic Marketing.

A man walks past by billboards reading Russia, left and Serbia, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 - Sputnik International
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A recent opinion poll conducted by the research company Ipsos Strategic Marketing has revealed that almost two thirds of those living in Serbia's Autonomous Province of Vojvodina harbor far more positive attitudes towards Russia than the EU, the US, or NATO.

The second position in the poll went to the EU, while the US and NATO held third and fourth positions, respectively.

Separately, the poll focused on ordinary Serbs' positions on their country joining the EU.

Despite the high level of support for the idea of joining the EU, which is currently endorsed by at least 53 percent of respondents, many believe that "something went wrong," according to the survey.

They were echoed by 77 percent who described the process pertaining to Serbia entering the EU as stalled or neither stalled nor sustained.

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Another 60 percent fear that Serbia's potential access to the EU will ride roughshod over Vojvodina's agrarian sector, while a  quarter of respondents believe that Serbia will never get the go-ahead from the EU.

Serbia received official EU candidate status on March 1, 2012. The European Council announced the launch of official negotiations January 2014, but the talks stalled at the time.

Brussels drew up a list of 35 regulations that Serbia must comply with to enter the 28-nation bloc. The matter of contention is the extra 35th clause demanding that Serbia improve relations with Kosovo.

Residents of Vojvodina have little love for NATO. Its largest city, Novi Sad, bore the brunt of the alliance's 1999 bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, which targeted its oil refineries, roads, bridges, and telecommunications relay stations, causing deaths and destroying much of the city's infrastructure and industry.

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