Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Chepurin has expressed his confidence that the new Serbian government is quite resolute to further strengthen relations between Belgrade and Moscow.
We cooperated very well with many ministers in the previous government and I cannot see why this should not be the same with the new cabinet, Chepurin said for Belgade-based daily Vecernje Novosti.
Perhaps we will not share the same views on all issues across the globe, but it is in our mutual interest to let our relationship grow as much as possible, he said.
Paraphrasing Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Chepurin said that Serbia is a friend of Russia’s and that it has been so, it is so now and will be so in the future.
Chepurin said that speculation about Russia having had its hand in deciding the composition of the new government and that it demanded that Ivica Dacic remains and that Zorana Mihajlovic is voted out of office is pure nonsense.
He said that Serbia can still count on Russia’s support regarding Kosovo in all international forums.
There will be absolutely no change in Russia’s stance towards Kosovo. Our position is based on international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, the Russian ambassador said, stressing that Russia’s referring to a decision by the International Court of Justice indicates the application of double standards by the U.S. and Western countries.
For them, it is acceptable and fair to use force against a sovereign state in order to dissociate part of its territory, while a quiet, unanimous expression of will by the citizens of Crimea during the state coup in Kiev is proclaimed illegitimate, said the Russian diplomat.
Chepurin also said that it is Serbia’s sovereign right to want to join the EU and Russia will not interfere. He welcomes Serbia’s position not to work against the interests of Russia.
When asked how Russia would react if Serbia joined NATO, Chepurin said that few people in Serbia considers it necessary and the future is not certain anymore, as one does not know if NATO will to continue to exist and if cooperation will be developing between Europe, Russia and China, with Moscow a connective chain between Brussels and Beijing.
Asked about the Ukrainian crisis and a possible new global war, the Russian diplomat said that some other countries may perhaps have an interest in it breaking out, but Russia certainly does not.
Asked about Russian investments in Serbia, Chepurin said that he hopes that the Russian loan to the Serbian Railways will make Serbian trains run four times as fast as now.
The Russian ambassador also said that the construction of South Stream through Serbia is proceeding according to plan and that both Russia and Serbia are very interested in the pipeline project.
