Serbia, Russia face “new era” in cooperation

BELGRADE Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic will travel to Russia and meet with top state officials on Thursday and Friday. Vucic will meet with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Thursday while Nikolic will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Sochi. Serbia, Russia face “new era” in cooperation The Serbian president said ahead of the meeting with Putin that a new era in cooperation was ahead of Serbia and Russia that would show that no goal was unreachable if two countries worked together. He told Itar-Tass that Serbia had not used potentials of the close relations with Russia enough. Nikolic added that some Serbian officials had not been fully honest when they spoke of the necessity of developing relations with Russia which caused great damage to Serbia. “Many opportunities were not used, many chances were missed,” he noted and added that the situation had changed in the last several years. “One of our priorities in economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia, based on similar languages, religion, culture and history,” the president added. A strategic partnership agreement should be signed during Nikolic and Putin’s meeting. The Serbian president said that “joint efforts aimed at activating bilateral cooperation in all areas” would be crowned with the agreement. “I expect that the signing of the agreement will have a positive effect primarily on the economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia and that it will encourage investments of Russian companies in our economy,” Nikolic pointed out. He said that in times of the economic crisis, Belgrade and Moscow’s joint work offered numerous opportunities for development of both countries’ economies. Itar-Tass has reported that key principles for the future cooperation between the two countries will be defined in the document. It will especially focus on economic ties, trade and strategic infrastructure projects and coordinated actions on the international political scene, especially when it comes to Kosovo. Nikolic also stressed that Belgrade was grateful to Moscow on its principled stance regarding the Kosovo issue. “The Russian Federation’s support at the international scene is important to Belgrade because Moscow advocates peaceful solutions, respect of Serbia’s sovereignty and steps that will be acceptable to both sides,” the Serbian president pointed out. Tomislav Nikolic (Beta, file) Tanjug

Serbia, Russia face “new era” in cooperation

The Serbian president said ahead of the meeting with Putin that a new era in cooperation was ahead of Serbia and Russia that would show that no goal was unreachable if two countries worked together.

He told Itar-Tass that Serbia had not used potentials of the close relations with Russia enough.

Nikolić added that some Serbian officials had not been fully honest when they spoke of the necessity of developing relations with Russia which caused great damage to Serbia.

“Many opportunities were not used, many chances were missed,” he noted and added that the situation had changed in the last several years.

“One of our priorities in economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia, based on similar languages, religion, culture and history,” the president added.

A strategic partnership agreement should be signed during Nikolić and Putin’s meeting.

The Serbian president said that “joint efforts aimed at activating bilateral cooperation in all areas” would be crowned with the agreement.

“I expect that the signing of the agreement will have a positive effect primarily on the economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia and that it will encourage investments of Russian companies in our economy,” Nikolić pointed out.

He said that in times of the economic crisis, Belgrade and Moscow’s joint work offered numerous opportunities for development of both countries’ economies.

Itar-Tass has reported that key principles for the future cooperation between the two countries will be defined in the document.

It will especially focus on economic ties, trade and strategic infrastructure projects and coordinated actions on the international political scene, especially when it comes to Kosovo.

Nikolić also stressed that Belgrade was grateful to Moscow on its principled stance regarding the Kosovo issue.

“The Russian Federation’s support at the international scene is important to Belgrade because Moscow advocates peaceful solutions, respect of Serbia’s sovereignty and steps that will be acceptable to both sides,” the Serbian president pointed out.