Russian PM meets with top Serbian officials

Russian PM Vladimir Putin arrived in Serbia on Wednesday and held meetings with the country's top officials, focusing on economic cooperation. Putin, who last visited Belgrade ten years ago, met with President Boris Tadic, PM Mirko Cvetkovic, and is due to meet with Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic. Russian PM meets with top Serbian officials Cvetkovic welcomed the Russian prime minister at the airport, while Boris Tadic greeted him with highest state honors in front of the Palace of Serbia, where Putin and a numerous delegation of Russian ministers and businessmen has started a series of meetings with Serbian officials. Tadic said that the two countries are bound by centuries of friendly relations, and noted that Serbia and Russia have historical and spiritual ties, with similar languages and flags, but that they also "reached agreement to build relations for the future based on mutual interests". Tadic announced that Belgrade and Moscow will in the coming months sign an agreement on strategic partnership, and described it as the crown of relations between the two countries. "That would not have materialized without your contribution," Tadic said, addressing Putin. The Serbian president welcomed the Russian PM by saying that "this is a country of great friendship for Russia and the Russian people". Putin said that he was glad to be in Belgrade after ten years, for talks on mutual cooperation, and noted that the scope of that cooperation was on the rise. Tadic and Putin then started their head-to-head talks, which was followed by a meeting of the two countries' delegations. Vladimir Putin and Boris Tadic are seen in Belgrade (Beta) Putin pleased Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was satisfied with the current talks in Belgrade on the priority issues of cooperation with Serbia - energy, transport and environment. Putin spoke briefly at the beginning of the meeting of the delegations of the governments of Serbia and Russia, which he chaired together with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. At the beginning of the meeting, Cvetkovic said that Putin's visit strengthens political ties between the two countries and contributes to fostering cooperation. This visit is a confirmation of the traditional friendship between Serbia and Russia and closeness between the Serbian and Russian peoples, he said. He expressed his conviction that the visit will strengthen political ties between the two countries and enhance their economic cooperation. Cooperation between Serbia and Russia is already defined by agreements, and the aim of this meeting is to go further, to define new directions of cooperation, Cvetkovic said. Putin expressed his satisfaction with the constructive beginning of the meeting and said that current issues will be discussed. He added that he has already had detailed talks on these topics with the Serbian president and at the meeting that followed. Putin also said he was pleased with the work on priority issues such as energy, transport, environment and others. Three inter-state agreements Three inter-state agreements were signed on Wednesday in the presence of Russian and Serbian Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Mirko Cvetkovic, along with a deal on cooperation between the city of Belgrade and a Russian energy company. The agreement on cooperation between the city of Belgrade and Russian company OADinter Rao, which is to promote the city's thermal-energy sector, was signed by Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas and OADinter rao President Boris Kovalchuk. An agreement on cooperation in the area of tourism was signed by Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric and Russian Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Nadezhda Nazina. An agreement on scientific-technical cooperation was signed by Serbian Minister of Science, Education and Sports Zarko Obradovic and Russian Deputy Minister of Education Alexei Ponomarev. Another agreement, related to the area of cooperation in international road transport was signed by Serbian Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Milutin Mrkonjic and Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin. "Great results" Ahead of the visit today, Moscow sources said that the talks in Belgrade would focus on economic cooperation, Kosovo and international affairs, including the situation in the Middle East and north Africa, especially Libya. They also said that Putin is going to try to convince Serbia and the region that Russia will not give up on the South Stream pipeline project. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said earlier that the visit was important for Serbia and stressed he expected "great results". "I expect Serbia will be stronger the day after the visit is over. We will talk economic, but also political topics, it will be an important visit from which we expect great results," said Jeremic. Putin was today accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller. He flew in on a USD 300mn Ilyushin airplane after his visit to Slovenia, and Serbia's airspace was closed during the landing. The security ring in charge of protecting Putin comprised some 4,000 police officers and maximum security measures were enforced. 400 reporters covered the visit - 250 Serbian and 150 foreign, the Serbian government said today. See our gallery for Putin visit photos South Stream assurances Ahead of his trip to Belgrade, Vladimir Putin was in Slovenia, where he said the South Stream pipeline would be completed, and that all European states would benefit from it. He and his Slovenian hosts signed a joint venture company for the construction of the pipeline through Slovenia. Reporters asked about media speculation that the project was in jeopardy due to disagreements with Turkey. "We don't think there is any threat to the project from our Turkish partners. Russia has versatile relations with Turkey and Ankara is interested in improving cooperation. We expect that our experts, along with international experts, as was the case with Nord Stream, will submit documentation to the Turkish partners, and that we will receive the final permit to build this pipeline," said Putin.

Russian PM meets with top Serbian officials

Cvetković welcomed the Russian prime minister at the airport, while Boris Tadić greeted him with highest state honors in front of the Palace of Serbia, where Putin and a numerous delegation of Russian ministers and businessmen has started a series of meetings with Serbian officials.

Tadić said that the two countries are bound by centuries of friendly relations, and noted that Serbia and Russia have historical and spiritual ties, with similar languages and flags, but that they also "reached agreement to build relations for the future based on mutual interests".

Tadić announced that Belgrade and Moscow will in the coming months sign an agreement on strategic partnership, and described it as the crown of relations between the two countries.

"That would not have materialized without your contribution," Tadić said, addressing Putin.

The Serbian president welcomed the Russian PM by saying that "this is a country of great friendship for Russia and the Russian people".

Putin said that he was glad to be in Belgrade after ten years, for talks on mutual cooperation, and noted that the scope of that cooperation was on the rise.

Tadić and Putin then started their head-to-head talks, which was followed by a meeting of the two countries' delegations.

Putin pleased

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was satisfied with the current talks in Belgrade on the priority issues of cooperation with Serbia - energy, transport and environment.

Putin spoke briefly at the beginning of the meeting of the delegations of the governments of Serbia and Russia, which he chaired together with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković.

At the beginning of the meeting, Cvetković said that Putin's visit strengthens political ties between the two countries and contributes to fostering cooperation.

This visit is a confirmation of the traditional friendship between Serbia and Russia and closeness between the Serbian and Russian peoples, he said.

He expressed his conviction that the visit will strengthen political ties between the two countries and enhance their economic cooperation.

Cooperation between Serbia and Russia is already defined by agreements, and the aim of this meeting is to go further, to define new directions of cooperation, Cvetković said.

Putin expressed his satisfaction with the constructive beginning of the meeting and said that current issues will be discussed.

He added that he has already had detailed talks on these topics with the Serbian president and at the meeting that followed.

Putin also said he was pleased with the work on priority issues such as energy, transport, environment and others.

Three inter-state agreements

Three inter-state agreements were signed on Wednesday in the presence of Russian and Serbian Prime Ministers Vladimir Putin and Mirko Cvetković, along with a deal on cooperation between the city of Belgrade and a Russian energy company.

The agreement on cooperation between the city of Belgrade and Russian company OADinter Rao, which is to promote the city's thermal-energy sector, was signed by Belgrade Mayor Dragan Đilas and OADinter rao President Boris Kovalchuk.

An agreement on cooperation in the area of tourism was signed by Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojša Ćirić and Russian Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Nadezhda Nazina.

An agreement on scientific-technical cooperation was signed by Serbian Minister of Science, Education and Sports Žarko Obradović and Russian Deputy Minister of Education Alexei Ponomarev.

Another agreement, related to the area of cooperation in international road transport was signed by Serbian Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Milutin Mrkonjić and Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin.

"Great results"

Ahead of the visit today, Moscow sources said that the talks in Belgrade would focus on economic cooperation, Kosovo and international affairs, including the situation in the Middle East and north Africa, especially Libya.

They also said that Putin is going to try to convince Serbia and the region that Russia will not give up on the South Stream pipeline project.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said earlier that the visit was important for Serbia and stressed he expected "great results".

"I expect Serbia will be stronger the day after the visit is over. We will talk economic, but also political topics, it will be an important visit from which we expect great results," said Jeremić.

Putin was today accompanied by a number of cabinet ministers and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller.

He flew in on a USD 300mn Ilyushin airplane after his visit to Slovenia, and Serbia's airspace was closed during the landing.

The security ring in charge of protecting Putin comprised some 4,000 police officers and maximum security measures were enforced.

400 reporters covered the visit - 250 Serbian and 150 foreign, the Serbian government said today.

See our gallery for Putin visit photos

South Stream assurances

Ahead of his trip to Belgrade, Vladimir Putin was in Slovenia, where he said the South Stream pipeline would be completed, and that all European states would benefit from it.

He and his Slovenian hosts signed a joint venture company for the construction of the pipeline through Slovenia.

Reporters asked about media speculation that the project was in jeopardy due to disagreements with Turkey.

"We don't think there is any threat to the project from our Turkish partners. Russia has versatile relations with Turkey and Ankara is interested in improving cooperation. We expect that our experts, along with international experts, as was the case with Nord Stream, will submit documentation to the Turkish partners, and that we will receive the final permit to build this pipeline," said Putin.