President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin is definitely coming to Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told journalists in Moscow.
After his talks with the head of the Russian state on Tuesday, Vucic said that Putin had asked his aides to set a date for his visit to Serbia.
This means that Putin will definitely visit Serbia, Vucic said.
“If Putin had just said, ‘I’ll come’, that would not mean that the visit would necessarily be realized,” Vucic explained.
“We’re far from solution”
The two presidents both spoke Russian as they met in the Kremlin earlier on Tuesday.
“It is a pleasure to have you here in Moscow,” Putin said to Vucic, according to his remarks published on the Russian president’s website. “I remember well your previous visit on May 8–9. Most recently, we celebrated the 180th anniversary of diplomatic relations.”
“I note with satisfaction a steady increase in bilateral trade, namely, 23 percent last year and another 13.3 percent in the first half of this year. Russia’s investment in the Serbian economy is also growing and now stands at USD 4 billion. I know we will need to talk about the situation in the region as well. I am very pleased to see you. Welcome,” Putin said.
Vucic first thanked his Russian counterpart for inviting him to Moscow, and then stressed how important the meeting was to the Serbs.
“Dear Mr. President, respected friend, thank you for inviting me and for the chance to talk. It is an honor to meet with you, and this meeting is especially important to the whole Serbian nation,” Vucic said, and added:
“Cooperation and relations between Russia and Serbia at the international level are very good, and I want to personally thank you for this, as well as for protecting the Serb interests, something you insist on, and this is of vital interest and importance to the Republic of Serbia. As you know, Mr. President, the situation in our region and in the Balkans is such that Serbia is exposed to numerous provocations and in despite our efforts and readiness to reach a compromise in Kosovo and Metohija, the situation is such that we are far from that, and any kind of solution. ”
The Serbian president also said that economic exchange between the two countries is growing and that he hopes it would increase further.
“Thank you once again for everything you are doing for Serbia, and I invite you to visit Belgrade again,” Vucic concluded.
See at: https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2018&mm=10&dd=02&nav_id=105188&utm_source=B92&utm_
