Lavrov: Election must preserve stability

Russia is very interested to see the outcome of the Serbian vote provide the country with stability, Sergei Lavrov says. The Russian foreign policy chief was meeting with his Serbian counterpart, Vuk Jeremic, in Moscow today. Lavrov: Election must preserve stability Russia is interested to see the presidential elections "confirm the status of Serbia as a responsible European country," Lavrov said. President Boris Tadic and the deputy leader of the Radicals (SRS) Tomislav Nikolic have made it to the Feb. 3 second round of the ballot. Jeremic and Tadic, along with Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, are in Moscow for the signing of an energy agreement between the two countries tomorrow. Besides bilateral relations, the process of determining the status of Kosovo was high on the agenda today. Russia is Serbia's most influential ally in a bid to preserve the province inside its borders and prevent the recognition of independence that the ethnic Albanians there are threatening to declare. "Full agreement between Serbia and Russia regarding the future status of Kosovo-Metohija was reaffirmed yet again in the talks with Lavrov," Jeremic told Tanjug news agency in Moscow this afternoon. Both countries believe that Kosovo status must be determined in keeping with international law and must not undermine Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said. Serbia highly appreciates Russia's principled stand in defense of international law, Jeremic told Lavrov. He emphasized that they agreed the bilateral agreement on energy sector cooperation due to be signed Friday is of strategic importance for the bilateral relations and for energy stability of Western Balkans. "Securing the energy supply to Serbia and the Balkans in the long-term will considerably improve the opportunities for new investments, particularly in manufacturing industries," Jeremic said. "In Serbia's view, improving economies will also result in stabilizing the political situation in the Balkans, which constitutes a pre-condition for the region's full integration in the European Union," he noted. As for the political situation in Serbia between the two rounds of the presidential vote, Jeremic said he conveyed to Lavrov his view that the second round will be a referendum on Serbia's future in the EU. He thanked Russia for its support for the "speedy integration of Western Balkans in the EU" and expressed hope that Moscow will pursue this policy in the future too. This was the third meeting of the two foreign ministers this year. Lavrov greets Jeremic in the Kremlin this afternoon (Beta)

Lavrov: Election must preserve stability

Russia is interested to see the presidential elections "confirm the status of Serbia as a responsible European country," Lavrov said.

President Boris Tadić and the deputy leader of the Radicals (SRS) Tomislav Nikolić have made it to the Feb. 3 second round of the ballot.

Jeremić and Tadić, along with Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, are in Moscow for the signing of an energy agreement between the two countries tomorrow.

Besides bilateral relations, the process of determining the status of Kosovo was high on the agenda today.

Russia is Serbia's most influential ally in a bid to preserve the province inside its borders and prevent the recognition of independence that the ethnic Albanians there are threatening to declare.

"Full agreement between Serbia and Russia regarding the future status of Kosovo-Metohija was reaffirmed yet again in the talks with Lavrov," Jeremić told Tanjug news agency in Moscow this afternoon.

Both countries believe that Kosovo status must be determined in keeping with international law and must not undermine Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

Serbia highly appreciates Russia's principled stand in defense of international law, Jeremić told Lavrov.

He emphasized that they agreed the bilateral agreement on energy sector cooperation due to be signed Friday is of strategic importance for the bilateral relations and for energy stability of Western Balkans.

"Securing the energy supply to Serbia and the Balkans in the long-term will considerably improve the opportunities for new investments, particularly in manufacturing industries," Jeremić said.

"In Serbia's view, improving economies will also result in stabilizing the political situation in the Balkans, which constitutes a pre-condition for the region's full integration in the European Union," he noted.

As for the political situation in Serbia between the two rounds of the presidential vote, Jeremić said he conveyed to Lavrov his view that the second round will be a referendum on Serbia's future in the EU.

He thanked Russia for its support for the "speedy integration of Western Balkans in the EU" and expressed hope that Moscow will pursue this policy in the future too.

This was the third meeting of the two foreign ministers this year.