Germany says the situation in Serbia remains deeply worrying - official Belgrade response follows

The German Foreign Ministry assessed on Monday that the situation in Serbia "remains deeply worrying" and assessed that "activists, to speak openly, are facing attacks and smear campaigns."

As the ministry announced through the social network X, "it is necessary for the media and politicians to behave responsibly," reports Telegraph.

"Serbia is a candidate country for membership in the European Union and as such we expect it to respect the rule of law and human rights," its statement said.

The situation in #Serbia remains deeply concerning: Activists face attacks and smear campaigns for raising their voices. Media and politicians need to act responsibly. #Serbia is an # EU candidate, and as such, we expect him to uphold the rule of law and human rights.

- GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) February 17, 2025

And immediately a reaction came from Serbia.

According to Serbian media, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the German ministry's assessment that the situation in Serbia is "deeply concerning", saying that "Serbia has a vibrant and diverse political and media landscape where different opinions can be freely expressed."

In its response, also published in X, the Serbian ministry stressed that "Serbia remains fully committed to supporting democratic values, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, as fundamental principles of our society and our European path."

The Serbian ministry also rejected the accusations of a "slander campaign".

The Republic of Serbia remains fully committed to upholding democratic values, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights, as fundamental principles of our society and our European path. Serbia has a vibrant and diverse political and media landscape where differing... https://t.co/yF0xqnX2QT

— MFA Serbia (@MFASerbia) February 17, 2025

"We categorically reject any generalized accusations that do not take into account the full context of political and media dynamics in Serbia. Any concerns should be addressed through constructive dialogue and based on verifiable facts, instead of unfounded allegations," the Serbian Foreign Ministry said.

She stressed that "Serbia expects all its partners, including Germany, to approach such issues with due respect for Serbia's sovereignty and democratic institutions."

"As a candidate country for EU membership, Serbia remains committed to fulfilling its obligations, but also expects fairness and mutual respect in the discourse on these important issues," the Serbian ministry said. /Telegraph/