Tadić, Medvedev meet in Belgrade

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was in Belgrade for a historic visit – the first by a Russian president to Serbia as a sovereign and independent country. Medvedev and his delegation, that included Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, arrived here at 11:00 CET. Tadic, Medvedev meet in Belgrade The president's motorcade reached the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade half an hour later, where he was welcomed with a military ceremony and by his host, Serbian President Boris Tadic. See more photos As the two presidents emerged from their face-to-face talks, Tadic told reporters that relations between Serbia and Russia have been improving for years, and that there is mutual understanding in all the areas where the two states are active. He expressed his gratitude to Medvedev for the principled and strong support that Serbia has received from Russia in the fight to defend its integrity in Kosovo. Tadic told a joint new conference that his meeting with Medvedev in Belgrade this Tuesday was "exceptional". The Serbian president stated that Russia is am essential factor of international policy, world economy and international security. Tadic concluded that during the conversation today, he reiterated his position that the global economic crisis also represents a security challenge, and that a new economic and security architecture of Europe and the world is needed. The Russian president also addressed reporters to say that Moscow will defend Serbia's sovereignty "in its entirety, when it comes to Kosovo". Medvedev described his talks with Tadic as "excellent", and said that while relations between the two countries are developing, new projects will create and even closer bond between them. "We are on the right path now and these projects are showing the historical bond between Serbia and Russia. NIS modernization, participation in the construction of South Stream, Banatski Dvor underground storage, all these are big projects that Europe's energy security depends on, something we've been working on actively," stated the Russian leader. Medvedev also stressed that Russia supports Serbia's decision regarding EU integrations. He noted that there is already large-scale exchange in the area of culture, and that "relations between the people of Serbia and Russia have lasted for centuries because we are spiritually close". Earlier in the day, Medvedev was greeted at the airport by First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. They, along with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, also arrived to the Palace of Serbia. After their meeting, Medvedev and Tadic joined their delegations for the signing of a series of agreements. Representatives of the government of Serbia and Russia signed five interstate agreements on cooperation. An agreement on cooperation in the area of humanitarian response in emergency situations, prevention of technological accidents and removal of their consequences was signed by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu. Dacic, in his capacity of first deputy PM, and Russia's FM Sergei Lavrov signed an agreement on cooperation in the area of internal affairs. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and his Russian counterpart Lavrov signed an agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, sports and youth policy for the 2009-2011 period. Serbian National Assembly President Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Aleksandr Babakov signed an agreement on parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Vesna Arsic and Governor of the Kursk Region Aleskandr Mikhaylov signed a memorandum of cooperation between the administration of Russia's region of Kursk and the Serbian Ministry. Srbijagas Director Dusan Bajatovic and Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller signed a contract on the South Stream pipeline and setting up of a joint-venture company for the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility. Meanwhile, security had been raised to the highest level around the venue of the meeting. 6,000 police officers were on duty during Medvedev’s visit. The Russian president, who was scheduled to spend around eight hours in the capital, also addressed MPs in parliament today. Serbian security was at Medvedev’s beck and call from the moment he entered Serbian airspace until the moment he left. Serbian police (MUP) and the security services (BIA) formed a special committee made up of members of various agencies. Russian special forces arrived in Belgrade last week. Some 570 journalists - 55 Russian, 40 from the region and abroad - were reporting from the visit today. The two presidents meet in Belgrade (Tanjug)

Tadić, Medvedev meet in Belgrade

The president's motorcade reached the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade half an hour later, where he was welcomed with a military ceremony and by his host, Serbian President Boris Tadić.

See more photos

As the two presidents emerged from their face-to-face talks, Tadić told reporters that relations between Serbia and Russia have been improving for years, and that there is mutual understanding in all the areas where the two states are active.

He expressed his gratitude to Medvedev for the principled and strong support that Serbia has received from Russia in the fight to defend its integrity in Kosovo.

Tadić told a joint new conference that his meeting with Medvedev in Belgrade this Tuesday was "exceptional".

The Serbian president stated that Russia is am essential factor of international policy, world economy and international security.

Tadić concluded that during the conversation today, he reiterated his position that the global economic crisis also represents a security challenge, and that a new economic and security architecture of Europe and the world is needed.

The Russian president also addressed reporters to say that Moscow will defend Serbia's sovereignty "in its entirety, when it comes to Kosovo".

Medvedev described his talks with Tadić as "excellent", and said that while relations between the two countries are developing, new projects will create and even closer bond between them.

"We are on the right path now and these projects are showing the historical bond between Serbia and Russia. NIS modernization, participation in the construction of South Stream, Banatski Dvor underground storage, all these are big projects that Europe's energy security depends on, something we've been working on actively," stated the Russian leader.

Medvedev also stressed that Russia supports Serbia's decision regarding EU integrations.

He noted that there is already large-scale exchange in the area of culture, and that "relations between the people of Serbia and Russia have lasted for centuries because we are spiritually close".

Earlier in the day, Medvedev was greeted at the airport by First Deputy PM Ivica Dačić and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić. They, along with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, also arrived to the Palace of Serbia.

After their meeting, Medvedev and Tadić joined their delegations for the signing of a series of agreements.

Representatives of the government of Serbia and Russia signed five interstate agreements on cooperation.

An agreement on cooperation in the area of humanitarian response in emergency situations, prevention of technological accidents and removal of their consequences was signed by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu.

Dačić, in his capacity of first deputy PM, and Russia's FM Sergei Lavrov signed an agreement on cooperation in the area of internal affairs.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and his Russian counterpart Lavrov signed an agreement on cooperation in the areas of culture, science, sports and youth policy for the 2009-2011 period.

Serbian National Assembly President Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Aleksandr Babakov signed an agreement on parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.

State Secretary in the Serbian Ministry of Economy and Regional Development Vesna Arsić and Governor of the Kursk Region Aleskandr Mikhaylov signed a memorandum of cooperation between the administration of Russia's region of Kursk and the Serbian Ministry.

Srbijagas Director Dušan Bajatović and Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller signed a contract on the South Stream pipeline and setting up of a joint-venture company for the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility.

Meanwhile, security had been raised to the highest level around the venue of the meeting.

6,000 police officers were on duty during Medvedev’s visit. The Russian president, who was scheduled to spend around eight hours in the capital, also addressed MPs in parliament today.

Serbian security was at Medvedev’s beck and call from the moment he entered Serbian airspace until the moment he left.

Serbian police (MUP) and the security services (BIA) formed a special committee made up of members of various agencies. Russian special forces arrived in Belgrade last week.

Some 570 journalists - 55 Russian, 40 from the region and abroad - were reporting from the visit today.