PMs urge stronger ties between Russia and Serbia

MOSCOW Serbia is a privileged and special partner, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said at the start of a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic on Wednesday. “True friends should not only exchange letters but they should meet as well,” Medvedev added. PMs urge stronger ties between Russia and Serbia He stressed that the two countries’ traditional friendship should be modern and that partnership should be efficient. Dacic thanked Medvedev for a series of agreements that will be signed at the end of the meeting, and especially pointed out an agreement approving a loan to Serbia to boost its budget. He told his Russian counterpart that things that had so far been done in the energy cooperation, such as Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) development and preparations for the construction of South Stream gas pipeline in Serbia had a positive effect on Serbia’s economy. The Serbian PM also advocated further strengthening of bilateral relations, adding that there was potential for development of cooperation in all areas. Serbian and Russian ministers were also attending the meeting. Several agreements, including the one on Serbia’s loan, mutual recognition of diplomas, customs cooperation and exchange of statistical data, have been signed today. Dacic also met with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. On Thursday, Dacic will meet with VTB Bank First Deputy President and Board of Directors Chairman Vasily Titov. Putin's assistant Yuri Ushakov said the visit was arranged in early February and is not directly tied to the results of the Kosovo talks in Brussels. Dacic is heading the Serbian government delegation composed of Deputy Prime Minister and Labor, Employment and Social Policy Minister Jovan Krkobabic, Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic, Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Goran Knezevic and Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning Minister Milan Bacevic. Ivica Dacic and Dmitry Medvedev (Tanjug) "Greatest friend" asked to get Kosovo talks to UN Russia supports Serbia's position on Kosovo and Metohija, but believes that solving this problem is Serbia's privilege, Dmitry Medvedev told a joint news conference in Moscow on Wednesday with his visiting Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic. "We are not the ones who should push forward that process, Serbia is. You should be interested to the greatest possible degree in a proper solution to this question," he noted, and added that the starting point in his reasoning was that "the political nuances, separate talks, and essential interests on this issue should be initiated by the Serbian side." Russia understands the importance of the Kosovo problems for its friends the Serbs, and that question is always brought up in meetings, Medvedev stated. He added that he was lately under the impression that more was expected from Russia than from Serbia itself: "That is not right. You should decide what stance you should take." According to the Russian prime minister, "this subject should also be brought up before the UN, and in negotiations with the EU." Medvedev underlined that Russia will support Serbia on this issue: "We will always support the position that will be formulated by Serbian officials." Ivica Dacic said that Serbia has every intention of resuming the dialogue on the Kosovo issue and achieving a sustainable solution. Serbia cannot accept the principles offered in Brussels as they do not guarantee the full security and protection of the Serbs' rights in Kosovo, he noted. The signing of such a document would not lead to a definitive and sustainable solution for the problem in the province, Dacic said. Serbia would like Russia to have an active role in resolving the Kosovo issue, he said. "We must consult with Russia,“ Dacic said. We should not take moves that would have repercussions that could be difficult to remedy, he said, adding that such was the decision to transfer the talks on Kosovo from the UN level to the EU one. The talks were transferred to the EU, and now Serbia calls on Russia to help it get them "back to the UN," he said. Dacic said that Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. The Serbian authorities are interested in protecting the Serbs living in Kosovo, and thus want to resume the dialogue with Pristina and get the talks back under the auspices of the UN. In a statement for the Belgrade-based TV Pink, Ivica Dacic said late on Wednesday that Russia was backing Serbia "on the road toward the European Union - because that is our choice". However, added the Serbian prime minister, that does not mean we should forget that Russia is our greatest and first friend. Dacic appraise the current period as "very important for diplomatic relations between Serbia and Russia and for the creation of mutual trust." Beta Tanjug

PMs urge stronger ties between Russia and Serbia

He stressed that the two countries’ traditional friendship should be modern and that partnership should be efficient.

Dačić thanked Medvedev for a series of agreements that will be signed at the end of the meeting, and especially pointed out an agreement approving a loan to Serbia to boost its budget.

He told his Russian counterpart that things that had so far been done in the energy cooperation, such as Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) development and preparations for the construction of South Stream gas pipeline in Serbia had a positive effect on Serbia’s economy.

The Serbian PM also advocated further strengthening of bilateral relations, adding that there was potential for development of cooperation in all areas.

Serbian and Russian ministers were also attending the meeting.

Several agreements, including the one on Serbia’s loan, mutual recognition of diplomas, customs cooperation and exchange of statistical data, have been signed today.

Dačić also met with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

On Thursday, Dačić will meet with VTB Bank First Deputy President and Board of Directors Chairman Vasily Titov.

Putin's assistant Yuri Ushakov said the visit was arranged in early February and is not directly tied to the results of the Kosovo talks in Brussels.

Dačić is heading the Serbian government delegation composed of Deputy Prime Minister and Labor, Employment and Social Policy Minister Jovan Krkobabić, Finance and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić, Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Minister Goran Knežević and Natural Resources, Mining and Spatial Planning Minister Milan Bačević.

"Greatest friend" asked to get Kosovo talks to UN

Russia supports Serbia's position on Kosovo and Metohija, but believes that solving this problem is Serbia's privilege, Dmitry Medvedev told a joint news conference in Moscow on Wednesday with his visiting Serbian counterpart Ivica Dačić.

"We are not the ones who should push forward that process, Serbia is. You should be interested to the greatest possible degree in a proper solution to this question," he noted, and added that the starting point in his reasoning was that "the political nuances, separate talks, and essential interests on this issue should be initiated by the Serbian side."

Russia understands the importance of the Kosovo problems for its friends the Serbs, and that question is always brought up in meetings, Medvedev stated.

He added that he was lately under the impression that more was expected from Russia than from Serbia itself:

"That is not right. You should decide what stance you should take."

According to the Russian prime minister, "this subject should also be brought up before the UN, and in negotiations with the EU."

Medvedev underlined that Russia will support Serbia on this issue: "We will always support the position that will be formulated by Serbian officials."

Ivica Dačić said that Serbia has every intention of resuming the dialogue on the Kosovo issue and achieving a sustainable solution.

Serbia cannot accept the principles offered in Brussels as they do not guarantee the full security and protection of the Serbs' rights in Kosovo, he noted.

The signing of such a document would not lead to a definitive and sustainable solution for the problem in the province, Dačić said.

Serbia would like Russia to have an active role in resolving the Kosovo issue, he said.

"We must consult with Russia,“ Dačić said.

We should not take moves that would have repercussions that could be difficult to remedy, he said, adding that such was the decision to transfer the talks on Kosovo from the UN level to the EU one.

The talks were transferred to the EU, and now Serbia calls on Russia to help it get them "back to the UN," he said.

Dačić said that Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.
The Serbian authorities are interested in protecting the Serbs living in Kosovo, and thus want to resume the dialogue with Pristina and get the talks back under the auspices of the UN.

In a statement for the Belgrade-based TV Pink, Ivica Dačić said late on Wednesday that Russia was backing Serbia "on the road toward the European Union - because that is our choice".

However, added the Serbian prime minister, that does not mean we should forget that Russia is our greatest and first friend.

Dačić appraise the current period as "very important for diplomatic relations between Serbia and Russia and for the creation of mutual trust."