Delegation head Leonid Kalashnikov introduced the National Assembly Speaker to the members of his delegation, drawing attention to Ambassador Alexander Chepurin who would, it was announced, request an audience with Speaker Stefanovic immediately after he had handed in his letter of accreditation.
Reminding of the long tradition of Serbian-Russian relations, Kalashnikov noted that the relations between the two countries have in the last years been ever closer, economically speaking, and added that, despite the differences among the parties of the State Duma, all the political factions equally view Serbia as a friendly country. Speaking of the prospects for further cooperation, Kalashnikov expects that it will be intensified particularly in the spheres of economy and culture.
Speaking of future development trends, Kalashnikov also mentioned the considerable potential in the zone of the free trade the advantages of which Serbia and Russia are already using. As regards international security, he highlighted the Russian aspirations toward Euro-Asia i.e. the security cooperation project within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
Concluding his address, Kalashnikov said that the development of bilateral relations should be accompanied by specific economic and political steps.
National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic said that the Serbian side is committed to economic cooperation using all the parliament’s potentials, especially the friendship groups, and noted that the friendship group with Russia will definitely be the largest. Stefanovic hopes that the two parliaments’ respective committees would establish even stronger cooperation accompanied by an exchange of work experiences. Speaking of important topics of said cooperation, Stefanovic said that they should, above all, deal with the economy, interparliamentary cooperation and security. As regards the latter, the National Assembly Speaker informed the guests that Serbia would form a parliamentary delegation to take part in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation as an observer.
Stefanovic said that Serbia is aware of the potential of the economic treaties with Russia and the manner in which these treaties strengthen market competitiveness. Next year’s agriculture budget will be doubled, stressed Stefanovic, adding that it would undoubtedly boost Serbia’s export potential toward Russia. The importance of the energy agreement and the Southern Stream are also very important for the Serbian side, stressed Stefanovic.
The National Assembly Speaker thanked Russia for its principled position and support it lends Serbia as regards addressing the Kosovo-Metohija issue, adding that, for the first time after many years, Serbia has a Government and parliamentary majority proud of the close ties with Russia. Serbia suffers great pressures because of the institutions in the north of Kosovo-Metohija which it supports, but it will not stop financing them or recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, stressed Stefanovic, adding that the goal of the negotiations with Pristina is to ensure peace and normal life for the Serbs of Kosovo-Metohija. Serbia finds only status neutral negotiations acceptable, said Stefanovic thanking the Russian side for the support at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly and joint efforts to include UNMIK into the monitoring process conducted by the international organisation in Kosovo-Metohija, because Serbia wants a more pronounced presence of the United Nations i.e. status neutrality.