"Serbia and Russia enjoy best ties in decades"

BELGRADE Serbian PM Ivica Dacic and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu say that the traditionally good political relations between Serbia and Russia have improved. They stated that relations between the two countries are now "the best they have been in several decades." "Serbia and Russia enjoy best ties in decades" At the meeting in Belgrade late on Tuesday, Dacic and Shoigu agreed that Serbia and Russia next year jointly commemorate the 70 anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade. The ministries of defense of Serbia and Russia, a statement issued by the government said, "should enhance cooperation in military industry, training and specialization of personnel and equipment upgrades." The need to improve economic cooperation was particularly stressed, as well as "expectations of participation of Russian capital in the privatization of Serbian companies," and investments in economic development in Serbia. Dacic said that Shoigu gave a decisive contribution to the development of friendly relations between Serbia and the Russian Federation. The meeting with Shoigu came after state leaders on Monday met with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and announced start of the construction of the South Stream pipeline in Serbia for November 24. On Wednesday, the Russian defense minister will hold meetings with is Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Rodic, as well as First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic and President Tomislav Nikolic. Nikolic will decorate Shoigu with the Medal of the Serbian Flag of the First Order. According to an earlier statement, the decree on Shoigu's decoration was made on July 3, 2012, for "special merit in the development of international relations and friendship between the peoples of Serbia and Russia." Shoigu is seen during his meeting with Dacic (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

"Serbia and Russia enjoy best ties in decades"

At the meeting in Belgrade late on Tuesday, Dačić and Shoigu agreed that Serbia and Russia next year jointly commemorate the 70 anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade.

The ministries of defense of Serbia and Russia, a statement issued by the government said, "should enhance cooperation in military industry, training and specialization of personnel and equipment upgrades."

The need to improve economic cooperation was particularly stressed, as well as "expectations of participation of Russian capital in the privatization of Serbian companies," and investments in economic development in Serbia.

Dačić said that Shoigu gave a decisive contribution to the development of friendly relations between Serbia and the Russian Federation.

The meeting with Shoigu came after state leaders on Monday met with Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller and announced start of the construction of the South Stream pipeline in Serbia for November 24.

On Wednesday, the Russian defense minister will hold meetings with is Serbian counterpart Nebojša Rodić, as well as First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić and President Tomislav Nikolić.

Nikolić will decorate Shoigu with the Medal of the Serbian Flag of the First Order.

According to an earlier statement, the decree on Shoigu's decoration was made on July 3, 2012, for "special merit in the development of international relations and friendship between the peoples of Serbia and Russia."