Serbian president receives Russian Duma chairman

Serbian president receives Russian Duma chairman

In an open and friendly conversation, the officials said they were satisfied with the level of cooperation between Serbia and Russia, especially in relation to the joint economic projects, the Serbian president's press service said.

Nikolić noted that Serbia is interested in intensifying construction works on the South Stream gas pipeline, underlining that this is the project that will ensure long-term energy security and create prerequisites for significant advancement of the Serbian economy.

Naryshkin conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin's regards to Nikolić, saying that he highly appreciates the strategic partnership between our two states and nations.

The State Duma speaker said that Russia "understands Serbia's commitment to EU integration," noting that the Union is also Russia's most significant trading partner.

Naryshkin was recently put on EU's sanctions list, but remarked that he arrived in Belgrade with no problems, and described the measures targeting Russian officials as illegal and undemocratic.

"Did they really think that, because of those sanctions, I would change my position on how just the reunification of Crimea with Russia was? Of course not. I am proud of having personally taken part in making this historic and extremely important decision, that saw two million Russian citizens return to their historic homeland," the Duma speaker said.

As for Kosovo, he said his country would continue to support Serbia's stance on the issue, because it was based on international law.

The two officials also exchanged gifts today: Naryshkin presented Nikolić with copies of letters written by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Sazonov and Tsar Nikolai (Nicholas) II of Russia, and by Commander-in-Chief Regent Aleksandar of Serbia, which show the two peoples and armed forces pledging mutual support in the event of war.

In return, also symbolic of the upcoming anniversary of the beginning of WW1, Nikolić presented Naryshkin with documentary films from the period of both world wars, as well as copies of the 1911 film about Prince Romanov's stay in Serbia, and the about Serbia's Grand Leader Karađorđe - the first Serbian motion picture.

Ahead of his meeting with Nikolić, Naryshkin placed a wreath at the Ušće memorial in Belgrade dedicated to the victims of NATO's 1999 air war against Serbia.

On Monday, the first day of his visit, the Russian official was received by Parliament Speaker Maja Gojković, and also opened a round table at the Belgrade University dedicated to "lessons of world wars."

He also visited memorials in Belgrade dedicated to the liberators of the city and the WW1-era Russian and Serbian soldiers.

Naryshkin is one of the Russian officials targeted by sanctions introduced by the EU. In its report from Belgrade, Russia's Itar-Tass noted that "it is no secret that Americans were exerting pressure to prevent Naryshkin from coming to Serbia," Tanjug reported.

"Objective"

Politicians and the public in Serbia have drawn an objective assessment of the situation in Ukraine and are deriving very precise conclusions concerning the events there, and Russia is grateful to them for this, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Sergei Naryshkin stated in Belgrade on Tuesday.

At a science gathering entitled "The 2014 Balkan Dialogue", he also said that when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, Russia will always support the decision which serves the interests of Serbia and its people.

In his address to reporters on the margins of the Russian-Serbian science meeting in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Naryshkin reiterated that Russia is very grateful to the Serbian public and politicians for their support to Russia's stand concerning the Crimea issue and the tragic developments in Ukraine.

He expressed gratitude to Serbia for refusing to back the anti-Russian resolution and for not backing down before pressures that aimed to have sanctions adopted for Russia which are, as he said, completely illegal.

The Russian official expressed his belief that Serbian politicians were "monitoring the developments in Ukraine very objectively and are deriving very precise conclusions from the events."

Naryshkin said that Russia will implement "absolutely all available political, diplomatic and humanitarian efforts so that violence and lawlessness which have happened and are happening in Ukraine could be stopped."

He also underscored that he was very honored to be staying in Serbia which shares deep-rooted ties with Russia, and expressed satisfaction that the two countries' relations have been elevated to the strategic level.