Belgrade asks if Moscow would be mediator in Kosovo dialogue

Belgrade asks if Moscow would be mediator in Kosovo dialogue

During his meeting in Moscow with Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko, Vucic, said that Kosovo was a topic of his meeting yesterday with President Vladimir Putin.

"I asked if Russia could act as a mediator and the Russian president agreed," he added.

"We have certain agreements, in case there are any conflicts, the format will expand in order to resolve the situation," Vucic said of the Belgrade-Pristina talks.

"If the (Kosovo) Albanians demand that the US become a mediator in the Kosovo talks, then we will demand that Russia join the process," Vucic said.

He said that Serbia highly appreciates Russia's support in preserving his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Political support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia from the Russian leadership is very important. For Serbia, the preservation of peace and stability in the Balkans has been and remains most important," said the president of Serbia.

Vucic said that he expects Russia's assistance and support in the future as well, and that he is "absolutely convinced" that in preserving its independence Serbia can "always count on Moscow's support."

Later on Wednesday, Beta said that the Kremlin "did not wish to comment" on Russia's possible mediator role.

"The topic of Kosovo was seriously addressed during the Russian-Serbian talks," spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the possibility of expanding the format of the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, TASS reported.

Representatives of Pristina have repeatedly - most recently this week - spoken in favor of the United States getting involved in the dialogue.

The dialogue was launched after the Kosovo issue was transferred from the UN to the EU in 2010, which has been acting as the facilitator ever since.