Milovan Drecun greeted the delegation on the behalf of the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee and the Committee on Kosovo-Metohija which he heads, stressing that it is an exceptional honour to see the parliamentarians exchange so many visits and help expand parliamentary and bilateral cooperation, as well as deliberate on the current security situation.

The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrei Klimov said that the security climate has changed considerably in the last two years, and Russia has felt the shifts. He added that that in the last nine years Russia has been hard at work on advancing its army and economy and managed to build a strong international position. Klimov said that international cooperation is essential for the preservation of security in Europe and beyond and that respecting the sovereignty of states is the very basis of peace and stability. He added that the delegation will also meet with a delegation of the European Parliament, at their initiative, and members of the American Senate this year in Russia also at their initiative.

The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Defence and Security Alexei Kondratyev said that Serbia and Russia’s friendship is invaluable. He said that cooperation on military exercises as well as through the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), in which Serbia is an observer, is very important for the two countries.

Milovan Drecun emphasized Serbia’s principled stance on the international situation saying that isolation, sanctions and sword rattling cannot solve problems, but only incite new crises and disturbances. It is in the interest of the whole international community, and especially Serbia, that the relations between Moscow and Washington improve as this would lead to a better position for Serbia to strengthen strategic and bilateral partnership. “You are our true friends and you have a real friend in us, and we expect friends to understand the position Serbia is in”, said Drecun. He explained that Serbia is in a specific geo-political environment and has to pursue a balanced foreign policy. He said that Serbia recognizes Russia’s support of its strategic commitment to EU accession and military neutrality. Speaking of military neutrality, he said that Serbia cooperates with military organizations as this is the only way to resolve international security challenges. Serbia’s cooperation with NATO as a non-member country is accompanied by a strong bilateral partnership with the Russian Federation and an expanding engagement in CSTO where it has the status of parliamentary observer and is more and more present in the military component.

“Kosovo-Metohija is Serbia’s key security challenge which determines the country’s foreign and domestic policy”, said Drecun. He added that it is Serbia’s goal to reach a compromise solution on the status of Kosovo-Metohija. That means that Serbia would not accept or recognize the false state of Kosovo or open the door to UN membership. “It is our goal to sit down and resolve the status of Kosovo-Metohija. Serbs and Albanians cannot do this alone, that is why an international forum where this issue is resolved is more and more on the cards”, said Drecun. If this format is established, Drecun said he sees Russia as a side that should take part in it.

On the occasion, Drecun once again thanked Russia for its support in preventing the violent secession of Kosovo-Metohija, adding that he believed Russia would have full understanding for this problem and continue to support Serbia.

The officials also spoke about organizing an international conference in Belgrade in early November to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One and sum up the mistakes made that had an impact on the modern world and sustainability of the world order. They also spoke about organizing a football match in the spirit of the ongoing World Cup, in which Italian and Austrian parliamentarians would also take part, to strengthen bilateral relations.

The meeting was also attended by MPs MA Ivan Kostic, Aleksandar Markovic and Miroslav Lazanski.