Serbian president invites Putin to visit Belgrade

Serbian president invites Putin to visit Belgrade

"The European Union, which Serbia aspires to join, is also aware of this and that is why it shows far more understanding for Serbia's specific position on relations with Russia," Nikolić said.

The president noted that it was "with great concern that Serbia is watching the crisis in Ukraine," adding that the country will not change its stand on the issue. Serbian officials have on numerous occasions repeated that Serbia respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, but would not join the EU and the United States and introduce sanctions against Russia.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Serbian president "also voiced the hope that all problems would be resolved peacefully."

Nikolić gave Lavrov an official invitation for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Serbia and attend celebrations of 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade in World War II.

Lavrov "thanked President Nikolić for the invitation, voicing his belief that the president of the Russian Federation would confirm his arrival in Belgrade in October this year," the statement said.

Lavrov also "conveyed Putin's regards to President Nikolić," adding that he "appreciates highly President Nikolić's contribution to Russia-Serbia relations, and that Putin is of the same opinion."

"One of the indicators of improvement in our bilateral relations is the fact that only during the last year the volume of trade between Serbia and Russia grew 15 percent," Lavrov said, expressing the hope that a joint committee would soon be set up to effectively resolve all possible hindrances to joint projects.

Nikolić and Lavrov also "talked about the South Stream pipeline, describing it as a project of great importance for entire Europe, especially for Serbia," the statement said.

Lavrov, who is on a two-day visit to Serbia, met with Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić earlier in the day and addressed a news conference.

On Tuesday, the high ranking Russian official also conferred with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.