Selaković: Cooperation with Russia is key to preserving Serbia's position

After the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Alexander Grushko, Selaković said that today's visit of the Russian official was a confirmation that the high-level meetings are the thing that characterizes the fraternal and friendly relations between the two countries.

"We discussed cooperation between the two ministries and further improvement of cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral level, and expressed hope that by the end of the year we will have the opportunity to host the Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Minister Lavrov", Selaković said at a joint press conference with Grushko.

The head of Serbian diplomacy said that they also discussed the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels and that he expressed gratitude to Minister Lavrov and his deputy Grushko for selfless help and support of Russia in preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.

"We are also grateful for the support in all international organizations which Pristina is trying to become a member of. Our cooperation with Russia is key to preserving our position in those organizations and forums", Selaković said.

At the meeting, the situation in economic and trade exchange was also mentioned, which, as he said, was lower compared to last year, but in some segments, it recorded a growth trend. 

Selaković conveyed his gratitude to Grushko for the support during the pandemic, which, as he pointed out, was crowned on 4 June, when at an online conference, Presidents Vučić and Putin marked the starting of the production of the "Sputnik V" vaccine in Torlak via a video link.

He added that the results of Selaković's visit to Moscow on 15 and 16 April were summarized at the meeting, and that he once again expressed gratitude to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for the warm welcome and constructive and friendly talks that they had. 

Grushko: To strengthen political dialogue and economic cooperation 

Russia and Serbia want to invest in the development of economic cooperation and to strengthen the political dialogue on all issues of regional cooperation, but also global world issues, said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia and reiterated Russia's position that the solution to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija should be sought exclusively under the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

"This is our position in international forums and in contacts with EU representatives, starting from the fact that the main goal is to establish peace and security in the region and protect the interests of all peoples living in the region, who should not be left with an artificial choice, which would only create new divisions", said Grushko.

He said that overcoming the corona virus pandemic would provide more opportunities for political dialogue and the continued development of economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

"Today, we had a very meaningful exchange of opinions on all issues important for the development of our cooperation. We hope that the visits of our high officials will be realized, including the visit of President Vladimir Putin to Serbia, and that they will confirm the strategic character of our relations", Grushko said. 

He stated that Russia shares the commitment of the Serbian side to "comprehensive development of the strategic partnership of our countries" and appreciates Belgrade's principled position on the issue of military-political neutrality, but also on strengthening cooperation with the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union.

He emphasized that energy remains a key sphere in economic cooperation between the two countries and added that the launching of the thermal power plant and heating plant TE-TO in Pancevo was planned for September, which is a joint project of "Gazprom Energoholding" and "Naftna industrija Srbije".

"We have good perspectives for cooperation in the economy, we also have fruitful cooperation in the field of transport and we are proud that with the participation of Russian Railways, the section of the Stara Pazova-Novi Sad railway line on the Belgrade-Budapest route is being reconstructed, which will be the first high-speed railway line in the region", stated Grushko.

He added that scientific and technological cooperation was also discussed, and that there are projects in that area that have great potential.

"A significant moment in our cooperation was the beginning of the production of the "Sputnik V" vaccine in Serbia. We assume that the cooperation in that area, as well as the military-technical cooperation will have a good perspective", the Russian official assessed in the end.

Source: Tanjug