PM says "West brought Serbia closer to Russia"

BELGRADE Russia, which has supported Serbia politically "in a dispute with the West over Kosovo," does not object to EU membership bid, Ivica Dacic was quoted by the AP. The Serbian prime minister "also suggested that Western powers have in fact pushed Serbia closer to Russia," the agency said. PM says "West brought Serbia closer to Russia" "Those (in the West) who criticize Serbia for its closeness to Russia and for our partnership with Russia, should ask themselves why they haven't offered such relations to Serbia?I keep telling the West: Serbia needs a strategic partner in the West too... But, they are not interested at all," Dacic said in an interview. Gazprom's South Stream pipeline, which will bypass Ukraine to transport Russian natural gas to Europe, is vital for Serbia because it will provide jobs and boost the Balkan country's regional position, the prime minister said. He "insisted that traditionally close ties with Russia will not affect his nation's bid to join the European Union." Dacic also dismissed allegations by Serbia's pro-Western opposition parties that the 2008 energy deal, under which Serbia sold 51 percent of its oil and gas monopoly to Gazprom as part of the South Stream agreement, paved the way for Russian economic and political dominance of the country. He said that critics "are afraid of Russia's presence in this part of the world," and added that the stretch of pipeline in Serbia will cost about 2 billion euros. It will be financed by Gazprom, while Serbia will pay back its share later through pipeline transit taxes, while about 20,000 people will work on construction and other jobs around the pipeline, including building gas storage and gas energy plants, Dacic said. "This is vital for Serbia's energy safety. Serbia will become an energy hub. We will be part of a pan-European project; this is not just a Russian project," he said. Dacic said that Serbia is willing for one of the pipeline branches go to Kosovo. He described Serbia's ties with Russia as "friendly and relations of strategic partnership in economic and political issues." "We wish to unite our two strategic goals: partner relations with the Russian federation and EU membership," he said, adding that Serbia would also want closer relations with Washington. "But, it takes two for a partnership," he said. (Tanjug, file) AP Tanjug

PM says "West brought Serbia closer to Russia"

"Those (in the West) who criticize Serbia for its closeness to Russia and for our partnership with Russia, should ask themselves why they haven't offered such relations to Serbia?I keep telling the West: Serbia needs a strategic partner in the West too... But, they are not interested at all," Dačić said in an interview.

Gazprom's South Stream pipeline, which will bypass Ukraine to transport Russian natural gas to Europe, is vital for Serbia because it will provide jobs and boost the Balkan country's regional position, the prime minister said.

He "insisted that traditionally close ties with Russia will not affect his nation's bid to join the European Union."

Dačić also dismissed allegations by Serbia's pro-Western opposition parties that the 2008 energy deal, under which Serbia sold 51 percent of its oil and gas monopoly to Gazprom as part of the South Stream agreement, paved the way for Russian economic and political dominance of the country.

He said that critics "are afraid of Russia's presence in this part of the world," and added that the stretch of pipeline in Serbia will cost about 2 billion euros.

It will be financed by Gazprom, while Serbia will pay back its share later through pipeline transit taxes, while about 20,000 people will work on construction and other jobs around the pipeline, including building gas storage and gas energy plants, Dačić said.

"This is vital for Serbia's energy safety. Serbia will become an energy hub. We will be part of a pan-European project; this is not just a Russian project," he said.

Dačić said that Serbia is willing for one of the pipeline branches go to Kosovo. He described Serbia's ties with Russia as "friendly and relations of strategic partnership in economic and political issues."

"We wish to unite our two strategic goals: partner relations with the Russian federation and EU membership," he said, adding that Serbia would also want closer relations with Washington.

"But, it takes two for a partnership," he said.