FM on Putin visit, Kosovo probe

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has confirmed that Russian PM Vladimir Putin will visit Belgrade on March 23. Putin will be here on a working visit, Jeremic explained, saying also that by the end of June, Serbian President Boris Tadic will travel to Moscow for a state visit, where an agreement on strategic cooperation between the two countries will be signed. FM on Putin visit, Kosovo probe Jeremic told a state broadcaster RTS news program late on Sunday in Belgrade that there were no political differences between Serbia and Russia. Putin's agenda when he visits Belgrade will include economic issues, above all those related to energy and infrastructure, said the FM. In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also arrive here, preparing the ground for Tadic's June trip to Moscow, said Jeremic. Jeremic also commented on the Marty report and allegations that ethnic Albanians kidnapped and murdered Kosovo Serb civilians for their organs, by saying that Serbia insisted on an investigation with a UN Security Council mandate. He noted that during last week's regular session on Kosovo in New York, most Security Council members supported Serbia, Russia and China among them. Some, said Jeremic, "expressed they were reserved" toward the idea. Serbia will now "continue intensive consultations with all Security Council members", said he, and stressed it was "too early to talk about a time-frame for the investigation decision to be made". The country has as its political and moral imperative not to give up on the launching of an investigation, said the minister. Jeremic also announced he will travel to Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia next week, with Kosovo as the main topic of conversations, as "a new wave of pressure" on countries worldwide is expected, in order for them to recognize the Kosovo Albania UDI made over three years ago. "Our task is to influence that this does not come to pass," said he, and noted he will also discuss economic issues and possible investments while visiting the Asian countries. The foreign minister will then travel to Geneva to attend a UN session on human rights, where he will present Serbia's stance on the organ trafficking report submitted by CoE Rapporteur Dick Marty. After that, Jeremic will head for France, where he will talk with his hosts about "EU integrations and bilateral cooperation". Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

FM on Putin visit, Kosovo probe

Jeremić told a state broadcaster RTS news program late on Sunday in Belgrade that there were no political differences between Serbia and Russia.

Putin's agenda when he visits Belgrade will include economic issues, above all those related to energy and infrastructure, said the FM.

In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also arrive here, preparing the ground for Tadić's June trip to Moscow, said Jeremić.

Jeremić also commented on the Marty report and allegations that ethnic Albanians kidnapped and murdered Kosovo Serb civilians for their organs, by saying that Serbia insisted on an investigation with a UN Security Council mandate.

He noted that during last week's regular session on Kosovo in New York, most Security Council members supported Serbia, Russia and China among them.

Some, said Jeremić, "expressed they were reserved" toward the idea.

Serbia will now "continue intensive consultations with all Security Council members", said he, and stressed it was "too early to talk about a time-frame for the investigation decision to be made".

The country has as its political and moral imperative not to give up on the launching of an investigation, said the minister.

Jeremić also announced he will travel to Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei and Indonesia next week, with Kosovo as the main topic of conversations, as "a new wave of pressure" on countries worldwide is expected, in order for them to recognize the Kosovo Albania UDI made over three years ago.

"Our task is to influence that this does not come to pass," said he, and noted he will also discuss economic issues and possible investments while visiting the Asian countries.

The foreign minister will then travel to Geneva to attend a UN session on human rights, where he will present Serbia's stance on the organ trafficking report submitted by CoE Rapporteur Dick Marty.

After that, Jeremić will head for France, where he will talk with his hosts about "EU integrations and bilateral cooperation".