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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Strengthening cooperation between Serbia, Russian Federation

Belgrade, 23 March 2011

Serbian President Boris Tadic said after meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today in Belgrade that the meetings were very successful, which will raise the level of cooperation between the two countries.

Vladimir Putin, left, and Boris Tadic at today's press conference

In a joint news conference with Putin at the Palace of Serbia, Tadic highlighted the importance of conclusion after today's meetings that there are no limits for the economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia.

The Russian Federation is one of the most important partners of Serbia, the Serbian President said and added that the two countries have the highest level of agreement in all areas of foreign policy and common interest in developing future bilateral cooperation.

Serbia and Russia in some areas have raised the level of cooperation to a very high level, which is of mutual benefit, he said and highlighted that the two countries share the highest degree of consensus on international issues.

We discussed the global and regional issues, bilateral relations between Serbia and Russia, the close ties in the domain of culture and language ties between the two nations that last for centuries and which will quite certainly exist in the future as well, Tadic said.

The Serbian President stressed that the strategic orientation of Serbia is to be a member of the EU, adding that Serbia also has a strategic interest to cooperate with Russia, including the energy sector.

I see no possibility for the EU to solve its energy needs without the partnership with Russia, Tadic said and voiced assurance that Serbia will also be part of that arrangement.

Tadic expressed his gratitude to Russia and Putin for support regarding Kosovo-Metohija, as well as for Russia's $200 million loan to our country approved at the time of global financial crisis.

Speaking on the construction of South Stream gas pipeline, the Serbian President said that this project is of great importance for the whole European continent and stressed that the Russian Prime Minister assured him that the project will be implemented in coming years.

The investments of Gazprom in Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) yielded the results because the company is profitable, he noted, adding that both countries support NIS’ participation in the regional markets.

Tadic added that investments in the Pancevo refinery are expected in the future.

The Serbian President said that he raised the issue of support to Serbia's initiative in the UN Security Council that an independent prosecutor should investigate the report of Special Rapporteur of the Council of Europe Dick Marty on trafficking in human organs in Kosovo-Metohija and Albania.

It is necessary to identify all the perpetrators and to prosecute them, he said noting that in that way we can make room for reconciliation in the region.

Tadic reiterated that Serbia is committed to a comprehensive and thorough investigation of Marty’s report, as well as all the cases of crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

Strengthening cooperation between Serbia, Russian Federation

Putin said that the list of joint economic projects between Serbia and Russia is constantly expanding and pointed out that Russian companies will help Serbia build its railway lines.

On the other hand, said Putin, we would like to take advantage of extensive experience of Serbian partners in building tourist facilities.

The Russian Prime Minister said he expects Serbian construction companies to take part in the preparation of the Olympic Winter Games to be held in Sochi in 2014 and the Football World Cup in 2018.

Putin said that Russia is not concerned about Serbia's aspirations to join the Union. We will carefully monitor and work together so that Serbia’s European integration would not cause harm to the Russian-Serbian relations, he said.

The Russian Prime Minister said that he spoke with Serbian officials on the construction of the Serbian part of South Stream gas pipeline and presented them with opportunities it will open for Serbia.

He recalled that the Russian company Gaspromneft, since it privatised NIS, invested $250 million in this company, and plans to invest another $500 million this year.

Putin used the occasion to call on the strengthening of centuries-long friendship between the Russian and Serbian people.

The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation first met with President Tadic tête-à-tête, which was followed by a plenary session of the two delegations.

Putin and Cvetkovic then co-chaired a meeting of delegations of the two governments.

In the presence of the two Prime Ministers, officials of Serbia and Russia signed agreements on cooperation in tourism, road transport, scientific and technical cooperation as well as an agreement between the City of Belgrade and the Russian power company Inter RAO UES.