First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic talked today at Serbia Palace with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov.
Minister Dacic said at a joint news conference following the meeting that Serbia wanted to become an EU member, which was its national and state interest, and that Serbia's membership of the European Union would in no way weaken or disrupt its relations with the Russian Federation. "I did not understand it as a question "either Russia or the EU". We want both the EU and continuation of our good relationship with Russia. Why would only Serbia be asked to make an "either or" choice, while the other EU countries have most diversified relations with Russia", said the Minister.
The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction over the visit by the Russian Minister, emphasizing that it was extremely important for the level of political relations existing between the two countries to exchange visits more frequently and on a regular basis, since Minister Lavrov's last visit to Belgrade was three years ago. "The level of political relations is such that it is impermissible to have such a long interval in between our meetings", said Minister Dacic, promising that there would be not so long intervals in the future, and stressed that the two countries had maintained good and friendly relations and that Serbia wanted them to be continued and further deepened.
The level of political relations was perhaps the best over the past few decades and we would like to see more visits exchanged, maybe at a higher level, he pointed out. "On the other hand, all economic projects which have been started will be continued. It is Serbia's interest that they be continued. It is our national and state interest to have the South Stream pipeline built; that NIS be the best company in the region; that we successfully complete the revitalization project for our railways, and a number of other investment projects", the Minister stated. According to him, the Russian Federation is one of the most important foreign trading partners of Serbia, after Germany and Italy.
At the same time, Minister Dacic thanked the Russian Federation and Minister Lavrov personally for their long-standing, continued monitoring of the situation regarding Kosovo and Metohija, as well as for Moscow's support to Serbia on this issue. "Had it not been for Russia and some other countries, but primarily Russia and China, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, Serbia would have found itself today in a practically hopeless position when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija", Minister Dacic said.
Referring to the Ukrainian crisis, Minister Dacic announced that Serbia would invest maximum efforts, as the OSCE Chair in 2015, to reach a solution through dialogue, assessing that this would pose a great challenge for our country next year.
Last but not least, he thanked Russia for the enormous humanitarian and rescue assistance during the recent floods, and for investing in the development of the humanitarian centre in Nis.
Minister Lavrov said that the South Stream construction project would proceed as planned, adding that all implementation plans remained in force because it was the only systemic solution for gas supplies to South Eastern Europe. "We have confirmed all our agreements and contracts on the South Stream, and reaffirmed the need for implementing this capital project, as this is the only project there is today which will ensure safe gas supply for South Eastern Europe", said the Russian Minister at the news conference.
Lavrov assessed the relations between Serbia and Russia as being characterized by a dynamic political dialogue which would be also facilitated by the consultations plan between the two Foreign Ministries.
Both Ministers, following the talks, signed the Plan of Consultations between the two Ministries for the period 2015-2016.