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Montenegrin NATO Accession Not to Boost Stability in Balkans

© AP Photo / Risto BozovicMontenegrin police officers are engulfed in smoke and flames as opposition supporters hurled torches on them during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Podgorica, Montenegro Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Police fired tear gas at opposition supporters who hurled fire bombs and torches to demand the resignation Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's government which hopes to steer the Balkan country toward NATO membership later this year
Montenegrin police officers are engulfed in smoke and flames as opposition supporters hurled torches on them during a protest in front of the Parliament building in Podgorica, Montenegro Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Police fired tear gas at opposition supporters who hurled fire bombs and torches to demand the resignation Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's government which hopes to steer the Balkan country toward NATO membership later this year - Sputnik International
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Serbia's Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said that in case of a referendum, the majority of Montenegrin residents would vote against accession to NATO.

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YEKATERINBURG (Sputnik) — The accession of Montenegro to NATO will not contribute to stability in the Balkans, Serbia's Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic said on Tuesday.

Last month, the United States announced that it was prepared to invite Montenegro to join NATO in December.

"We believe that the accession of Montenegro to NATO would not contribute to the stability of the Balkans and the stability of the region," Terzic told reporters.

He added that in case of a referendum, the majority of Montenegrin residents would vote against accession.

"The problem is that the majority of [Montenegrin] citizens are against it [joining NATO]. If there was a referendum, such a decision would not be made," Terzic pointed out.

Since late September, Montenegro saw a string of anti-government protests with thousands of citizens gathering in the streets of the country's capital, Podgorica, to demand that Montenegro stay out of the US-led NATO military bloc and calling for the creation of an interim government and early parliamentary elections.

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Serbia's Ambassador to Russia Slavenko Terzic also stated that supplies of some food products from Serbia to Russia have increased by 150 percent following Moscow's food embargo on products originating in the European Union.

"Agricultural products [supplies] have significantly increased, in particular fruit export, including apples and prunes. Export of dairy products and meat has increased as well. Significantly increased. For example, I can say that the export of apples has grown by 80 percent, even by 150 percent for some of them," Terzic said.

Last year, the European Union, the United States and their allies imposed a series of individual and economic sanctions against Russia, accusing Moscow of escalating a military crisis in Ukraine.

Russia has denied the accusations and in August 2014 announced a one-year food embargo on products originating in states that imposed sanctions against Moscow. The ban has been extended for another year.

Earlier in November, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that though his country wants to become a part of the European Union, Serbia would not introduce anti-Russia sanctions while he maintains his post.

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