PM joins forum only after K. Albanian official leaves

Serbian PM Mirko Cvetkovic on Thursday refused to take part in the forum on account of the presence of Kosovo Economic Development Minister Besim Bekaj. Cvetkovic gave his speech only after organizers had asked Bekaj to leave the room. PM joins forum only after K. Albanian official leaves Serbian PM Mirko Cvetkovic said that Serbia was open to participating in projects aimed at raising the security of energy supply. He said at the opening of the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul that Serbia was also open to technological advancement and expansion of transport and storage capacities, as well as building regional networks. He said the security of energy sources and supply routes was one of the most important issues for governments in the region and the international expert and political community, and that the economic crisis has not reduced the significance of energy safety on the global level. The prime minister reminded Serbia had an important role and regional significance when it got involved in the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline. “By signing the agreement with the Russian Federation, which encompasses the construction of the Serbian section of the South Stream international gas pipeline and the Banatski Dvor underground storage, Serbia got a larger role and more responsibility as part of a major transit route which continues on to the European market," he stressed. Cvetkovic pointed out that the major gas infrastructure project should also help the Serbian economy to grow, unemployment to drop and the social component of the market economy to strengthen. According to him, Serbia wants to identify concrete projects which can be realized in cooperation with countries in the region. The projects in question include construction of pumped-storage hydro power plants, interconnection between Republic of Srpska (RS), Serbia and Italy, renewable energy projects, laying of telecommunications cables simultaneously with gas infrastructure and construction of regional gas storage facilities. Cvetkovic repeated that Serbia was active in the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, particularly in its energy working group. “Considering the great energy potential of the Black Sea region, we intend to organize a ministerial meeting on energy during our chairmanship of the organization from January to June next year,” he concluded. With his address at opening of the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum, Cvetkovic started his visit to Turkey, where he will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Forum aims to advance regional economic cooperation, investment and trade as well as develop the idea of community in the greater Black Sea area. The Forum is organized by the Atlantic Council in cooperation with the Turkish government and with the support of numerous regional and international partners. Istanbul also hosted last year's forum, while the first one was held in Bucharest. Mirko Cvetkovic (Tanjug)

PM joins forum only after K. Albanian official leaves

Serbian PM Mirko Cvetković said that Serbia was open to participating in projects aimed at raising the security of energy supply.

He said at the opening of the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum in Istanbul that Serbia was also open to technological advancement and expansion of transport and storage capacities, as well as building regional networks.

He said the security of energy sources and supply routes was one of the most important issues for governments in the region and the international expert and political community, and that the economic crisis has not reduced the significance of energy safety on the global level.

The prime minister reminded Serbia had an important role and regional significance when it got involved in the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline.

“By signing the agreement with the Russian Federation, which encompasses the construction of the Serbian section of the South Stream international gas pipeline and the Banatski Dvor underground storage, Serbia got a larger role and more responsibility as part of a major transit route which continues on to the European market," he stressed.

Cvetković pointed out that the major gas infrastructure project should also help the Serbian economy to grow, unemployment to drop and the social component of the market economy to strengthen.

According to him, Serbia wants to identify concrete projects which can be realized in cooperation with countries in the region.

The projects in question include construction of pumped-storage hydro power plants, interconnection between Republic of Srpska (RS), Serbia and Italy, renewable energy projects, laying of telecommunications cables simultaneously with gas infrastructure and construction of regional gas storage facilities.

Cvetković repeated that Serbia was active in the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, particularly in its energy working group.

“Considering the great energy potential of the Black Sea region, we intend to organize a ministerial meeting on energy during our chairmanship of the organization from January to June next year,” he concluded.

With his address at opening of the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum, Cvetković started his visit to Turkey, where he will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Forum aims to advance regional economic cooperation, investment and trade as well as develop the idea of community in the greater Black Sea area.

The Forum is organized by the Atlantic Council in cooperation with the Turkish government and with the support of numerous regional and international partners.

Istanbul also hosted last year's forum, while the first one was held in Bucharest.