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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia, Russia to step up economic cooperation

Belgrade, 19 October 2009

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu said this evening that there is great scope for improving economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia.

Sergei Shoigu, left, and Ivica Dacic sign a protocol

Dacic and Shoigu held a joint press conference after the eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Serbian-Russian Committee for Trade, Economic and Scientific Cooperation, at which a cooperation protocol was signed. They stated that main areas specified for cooperation are infrastructure, science and technology and culture.

Dacic stressed that the Russian side is willing to allow Serbian construction companies to take part in building facilities for the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. He said that the Russians are also ready to invest in Serbia through loans. Dacic said that it will soon be confirmed which projects are in question and for what purpose the funds will be used, adding that it was jointly concluded that there is great scope for economic cooperation and both sides are ready to make this possible by signing various agreements. He said that the Serbian government has formed an expert group consisting of various ministry representatives who will examine, together with their Russian counterparts, the issue of loan arrangements for infrastructure projects. He stressed that Serbia is interested in Russian investments for road and railway corridors and for the reconstruction of the railway system. He said that the aim is to increase trade with Russia in the upcoming years, adding that he is pleased with the work of the Intergovernmental Committee and that a lot has been achieved since its seventh session, which was held in Moscow in November last year. He said that the free trade agreement with Russia is not being utilized fully by Serbia. He said that visa restrictions for travel to Russia have been removed for Serbian citizens and that Russia has recently begun the renovation of the Djerdap hydro electric power plant as part of a debt clearing arrangement with Serbia.

He said that on October 20, an agreement will be signed between the Serbian Interior Ministry and the Russian Emergency Ministry concerning cooperation in emergency situations, according to which regional humanitarian offices for urgent response to emergencies will be opened in Nis.

Shoigu said that regardless of the problems caused by the economic crisis the Intergovernmental Committee has done valuable work. He said that work has been done on new agreements concerning science, education, culture and emergency situations. We can look forward with hope to tomorrow’s day when Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will arrive in Belgrade, said Shoigu, adding that Russia and Serbia have close friendly ties.