"Serbia and Russia always on same side"

"Serbia and Russia always on same side"

Nikolić stressed that it was his great pleasure to host Putin in Serbia and that the relations between the two countries are seeing "increasingly better development."

"These days it is popular to measure friendship with trade exchange, but we view friendship in a different manner," said Nikolić.

He went on to say that Serbia "counts the Russian Federation among its great friends," and that this thinking is something passed down from our ancestors.

"Also, we teach our children to think the way we think. Everything binds us - not only our Slavic origins, language, faith, and culture, but also that we have always been on the same side," the Serbian president said.

Nikolić noted that Serbia finds Russia's support precious when it comes to preserving the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty over Kosovo, and added:

"I know Russia is guarding that principle, although I know it could act differently. Serbia sees a great ally and partner in Russia and will not jeopardize its morals with any kind of behavior towards Russia. We have no choice and we cannot act otherwise."

The Serbian president said that economic cooperation closely follows the friendship between the two countries.

"We will today have the opportunity to solve the problems that we ourselves, above all we ourselves, have created in the energy complex, such as debts. Also, we will speak about the way in which Russia can help our petrochemical industry, and I think, development of agriculture in Serbia would enable for Russia's stable supplies," Nikolić said during the part of the meeting open to the public.

Putin also spoke in this part of the meeting to say that Moscow's principled support to Serbia over Kosovo "cannot change."

"We intend to support Serbia. Russia does not trade with its friendships," he was quoted as saying and adding that when it comes to Kosovo, his country was interested in a principled position that is based not only on friendship but also on international law and justice.

This, Putin remarked, is Russia's principled position that cannot be changed.

"We have a common past and I am convinced and hope that we will also have a common future," he said.

After the closed part of the meeting, Nikolić decorated Putin with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, and the Russian leader then met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

Vučić welcomed him by saying he was glad Putin is taking part in the Belgrade liberation anniversary.

"Serbia will never forget the participation of Soviet troops in the liberation of Belgrade," Vučić said.

He also noted that trade between Serbia and Russia was on the rise and that he saw "room for progress in that sense."

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