Our desire to join EU won't make us anti-Russian - FM

Our desire to join EU won't make us anti-Russian - FM

According to the Serbian government, Dacic said that Russia "never exerted pressure on Serbia, nor has its foreign minister ever come to Belgrade to do that, but rather he was always ready to help Serbia."

"I think I speak on behalf of the whole nation and Serbia - without Russia it is impossible to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty," Dacic said, adding that "this means that Serbia will never be an anti-Russian state, such as some other countries that have become so, and will not join sanctions and other measures against Russia, and that Serbia will not become a member of NATO."

"Our desire to be a member of the European Union has absolutely nothing to do with relations with Russia and we will not allow anybody to turn that into an anti-Russian position," said Dacic.

The Serbian minister also "noted that Lavrov has done so much for Serbia and the Serbian people as a whole that for that reason he is one of the most favorite guests in Belgrade."

Dacic announced that Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will visit Moscow on 21 December, where he will reach an agreement with Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoygu that will significantly strengthen the defense power of Serbia, and that "no agreement will be signed in Moscow because Serbia turned to Russia with a petition for a military technical donation, including aircraft."

"That is not a sales agreement since Russia will donate equipment, and we will pay only the part that relates to the adjustment of equipment for the use in Serbia," Dacic explained.

According to him, Vucic's visit will represented "only the finalization of the talks on the donation, which includes aircraft and funding for other aspects of the military."

Lavrov pointed out that Russia accepts all the solutions and processes in relation to Kosovo, but with maximum respect for UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and it opposes its unilateral revision.

"We are solidary with our Serbian friends and we are opposed to any attempts to unilaterally revise this resolution," Lavrov stated, adding that he also spoke with Dacic "about the situation in the region, including efforts for Bosnia-Herzegovina but with respect for all three constituent peoples."

Lavrov said that Moscow was "ready to seriously consider all issues related to the defensive power of Serbia" and "stressed that Russia is interested in strengthening the non-bloc opinion in Europe, but does not see that NATO is also ready for that."

Dacic and Lavrov exchanged gifts during the news conference: Lavrov received "a special gift - especially made folkwear jacket with gold metal thread, red baize and Orthodox motifs," manufactured in Leposavic, Kosovo and Metohija, while Dacic received the Moscow football club CSKA's jersey.