"Stable, friendly, fraternal" ties with Russia - FM

"Stable, friendly, fraternal" ties with Russia - FM

"They far transcend the daily political issues. There are no contentious issues between our countries. We are grateful to Russia for the support on Kosovo," Dacic said.

According to him, "ideas are often heard, including in Brussels" that Serbia is placed "between two fires, or sitting on two chairs."

"We cannot hide our policy. We have our publicly stated decisions. Serbia has its political goal of becoming a member of the EU, but that does not mean it should break up relations with friendly countries, and here I am primarily referring to Russia," Dacic said.

He added that Serbia "wants to develop relations and cooperation with Russia in as many areas as possible."

Lavrov said that Russia highly appreciates the level of relations it has with Serbia.

"Minister Dacic has just presented the views of Serbia. There are not many countries in Europe that holds such views. Many have the attitude of 'either-or'. Serbia's position is originally European," Lavrov said, adding that the country, currently holding the OSCE presidency, has also "shown its commitment to all the basic values " of the organization.

According to the high ranking Russian official, bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia are "very good on all levels."

He stressed the presence of President Tomislav Nikolic in Moscow on May 9, as well as Serbia's decision to send troops to the military parade organized to celebrate Victory Day.

All this, said Lavrov, testifies to the commitment to our shared history and is a pledge of strategic partnership between the two countries.

Dacic pointed out that Serbia is against any form of historical revisionism, adding that history cannot be "overwritten with the eraser."

"Those who forget history are destined to relive it, and Europe does not deserve that," said Dacic.

Both ministers offered a positive assessment of trade and economic relations between Serbia and Russia, pointing out that there was "still plenty of room for improvement," and focused especially on energy.

In this context, Lavrov said that the Russian side "confirmed its readiness to cooperate in this field, and on the delivery of gas to Serbia," while according to Dacic, "Nord (north) Stream is not sufficient for Europe - a southern one is also necessary, whatever it's called."

This part of Europe must not remain a dead end in this respect, the Serbian minister noted.

When it comes to trade relations, Dacic said there was exchange worth EUR 2.5 billion last year, but added it would be "even greater."

"We are increasing Serbian exports in terms of agriculture," Dacic said.

The Serbian minister noted that "one of the topics" of his discussions with Lavrov today was also the Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in Nis, southern Serbia, which, he reiterated, "is not aimed against anyone."

Turkish Stream, sanctions, and Macedonia

During the joint news conference, the Russian foreign minister said that "Moscow sees the worsening situation in Macedonia as tied to the country’s refusal to join economic sanctions against Russia and its support of constructing the Turkish Stream gas pipeline."

"Moscow sees the worsening situation in Macedonia as tied to the country’s refusal of economic sanctions against Russia and its support of constructing the Turkish Stream gas pipeline," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia's Sputnik website.

“I cannot judge with a final definition, but objectively it turns out that these events in Macedonia are developing on the backdrop of the Macedonian authorities’ refusal to join in the sanction policy against Russia, as well as on the backdrop of its active support that Skopje showed in regard to the planned construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which many in Brussels and those overseas are against,” Lavrov said.