Russian minister receives Serbian state decoration

BELGRADE Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has presented Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with the Order of the Serbian Flag of the First Degree. Shoigu received the state decoration "for special merit in the development of international relations and friendship between the peoples of Serbia and Russia," it was announced. Russian minister receives Serbian state decoration "Serbia and Russia have always been on the same side, and it will be so in the future as well," Nikolic said during the ceremony in Belgrade on Wednesday. He underscored that Serbia "has its own path, a clear and committed one, and it needs the help of the entire world on it, but this would have been difficult to achieve if it were not for Russia as it is - Russia of today." “Serbia decorates you on this day,” Nikolic said, addressing the high ranking Russian official, and added that Shoigu's friendship toward Serbia and its people "did not depend on our internal relations, nor was it fettered." Nikolic then asked him to communicate the greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the people of Russia, and underscored that "relations have entered a new era with the construction of the South Stream pipeline and through other investments." (Beta) "Shoigu understood what kind of assistance Serbia needs and he realized that in addition to cherishing the respect, love and tradition and all the points that have been connecting the two countries for centuries now, economic relations need to keep improving too," the Serbian president said. The president then said that he hoped that "those who are carefully watching him in order to find some fault" would not find a single word to day against the decision to decorate the Russian minister. According to Nikolic, "Serbia and Russia always had better cooperation during armed conflicts than in peaceful times," and added that Shoigu changed this mindset. "It was to a large degree up to you whether we would also establish very good relations in peace," he said, addressing Shoigu. "Our weapons were always used together," Nikolic stated, and then expressed his hope that "no weapon will ever be used in the world again." "But Serbia knows only one thing: Serbia and Russia have always been on the same side, that is how it was, that is how it will be in the future," the president remarked. (Tanjug) Shoigu expressed his gratitude to the Serbian president for the medal and said that he considered it a great honor. He also thanked Nikolic for the attitude he expressed when speaking about the friendship between Russia and Serbia which has roots in centuries of history. "These roots are very hard to extract and destroy," noted the Russian defense minister. Shoigu added that he was "absolutely certain the medal is a dignified continuation of bilateral relations, both between the two countries and between their people." Shoigu also said that during his mandate as the minister of defence, which he assumed in late 2012, he would invest efforts in the continuation of good relations and ensure that they are conducted in keeping with the strategic contracts signed by the two countries' presidents." (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

Russian minister receives Serbian state decoration

"Serbia and Russia have always been on the same side, and it will be so in the future as well," Nikolić said during the ceremony in Belgrade on Wednesday.

He underscored that Serbia "has its own path, a clear and committed one, and it needs the help of the entire world on it, but this would have been difficult to achieve if it were not for Russia as it is - Russia of today."

“Serbia decorates you on this day,” Nikolić said, addressing the high ranking Russian official, and added that Shoigu's friendship toward Serbia and its people "did not depend on our internal relations, nor was it fettered."

Nikolić then asked him to communicate the greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the people of Russia, and underscored that "relations have entered a new era with the construction of the South Stream pipeline and through other investments." "Shoigu understood what kind of assistance Serbia needs and he realized that in addition to cherishing the respect, love and tradition and all the points that have been connecting the two countries for centuries now, economic relations need to keep improving too," the Serbian president said.

The president then said that he hoped that "those who are carefully watching him in order to find some fault" would not find a single word to day against the decision to decorate the Russian minister.

According to Nikolić, "Serbia and Russia always had better cooperation during armed conflicts than in peaceful times," and added that Shoigu changed this mindset.

"It was to a large degree up to you whether we would also establish very good relations in peace," he said, addressing Shoigu.

"Our weapons were always used together," Nikolić stated, and then expressed his hope that "no weapon will ever be used in the world again."

"But Serbia knows only one thing: Serbia and Russia have always been on the same side, that is how it was, that is how it will be in the future," the president remarked. Shoigu expressed his gratitude to the Serbian president for the medal and said that he considered it a great honor.

He also thanked Nikolić for the attitude he expressed when speaking about the friendship between Russia and Serbia which has roots in centuries of history. "These roots are very hard to extract and destroy," noted the Russian defense minister.

Shoigu added that he was "absolutely certain the medal is a dignified continuation of bilateral relations, both between the two countries and between their people."

Shoigu also said that during his mandate as the minister of defence, which he assumed in late 2012, he would invest efforts in the continuation of good relations and ensure that they are conducted in keeping with the strategic contracts signed by the two countries' presidents."