Russia "respects" Serbia's EU bid - FM Lavrov

Russia "respects" Serbia's EU bid - FM Lavrov

At a press conference held in Belgrade on Tuesday after a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, Lavrov said that the construction of the South Stream pipeline will go "according to plan."

"We have confirmed all our agreements and contracts concerning South Stream, and also the necessity to carry this major project through because right now, it is the only one that can ensure gas supply to Southeast Europe," the Russian minister stated, and voiced belief that the suspension of the work on the pipeline in southern Bulgaria was only temporary.

"All decisions regarding the works remain in effect, there is no change of plans," said Lavrov.

He also spoke about the upcoming presidency of Serbia of the OSCE noting that next year marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Helsinki Act, while a process dubbed Helsinki +40 was ongoing.

"We hope that this process will result in the elaboration of certain agreements that will promote new approaches to the unity of Europe. One of the useful topics would also elaborate the harmonization of integration projects, both within the EU and within the Eurasian integration project," said the Russian official.

He stressed that his country supports the strengthening of the role of the OSCE in resolving the Ukrainian crisis, and a monitoring mission in Ukraine, as a road map of the Swiss chairmanship, but added that, unfortunately, the Ukrainian leadership does not accept it, and urged European countries to put pressure on Kiev in this sense.

Dačić also addressed reporters to say that Serbia's membership in the EU "will in no way weaken or sever" the country's ties with Russia.

He emphasized that Serbia "wants to be a member of the EU, which is a national and state interest," while it does not want to, and will never be against Russia.

"I did not understand that this was a question of 'either Russia or the EU.' We want both the EU and the continuation of good relations with Russia. Why should only Serbia be asked to choose 'either or' while other countries of the EU have most developed ties with Russia," Dačić underlined.

He expressed his great pleasure over the visit of his Russian counterpart, pointing out that for the sake of the level of political relations that exists between the two countries, "it would be very important to have more frequent and regular mutual visits."

At the same time, Dačić pointed out that he extended his invitation to his colleague while in Vienna on May 6, considering that Lavrov did not visit Belgrade for three years.

"The level of political relations is such that it was an impermissibly long period of time without our meetings. That was the reason for the visit, no other," he underlined. Dačić "promised" that such long periods of time without meetings would not happen again, and stressed that the two countries have good and friendly relations, which Serbia wants to continue and further deepen.

"The level of political relations is perhaps the best in the last few decades and we want more exchanges of visits and perhaps on a higher level," the Serbian foreign minister remarked.

"On the other hand, all the economic projects that have been started will continue. Serbia's interest is that they continue. Our national and state interest is to build South Stream, that (Gazprom-owned) NIS is the best company in the region, to successfully complete the program of revitalization of our railways, and a host of other new investment programs," he said.

The Russian Federation, according to him, is one of the most important trade partners of Serbia, beside Germany and Italy.

Dačić thanked Russia, but especially Minister Lavrov on years of continuous monitoring and involvement in the problems that Serbia has when it comes to Kosovo, and Russia's support on this issue.

"If not for the support of Russia and some other countries, but especially Russia and China as permanent members of the UN Security Council, Serbia would today be in an almost lost position when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija," he said, in reference to the country's southern province, where ethnic Albanians six years ago unilaterally declared independence.

Dačić announced that Serbia will make every effort, as the future chairman of the OSCE, to resolve the Ukrainian crisis through dialogue, stating that it will be a great challenge for our country in the next year.

He thanked Russia for the huge humanitarian assistance and the rescue teams provided to Serbia when disastrous floods hit in May, and for investment in the development of the Russo-Serbian humanitarian center in Niš.

The two officials on Tuesday signed their ministries' Plan of Consultations for 2015 and 2016.