Russian, Serbian FM to discuss European security & Balkans

MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
and his Serbian opposite number Vuk Jeremic will on Thursday discuss ways of strengthening European security and stabilizing the situation in the Balkans.

"Russia and Serbia are interested in close interaction with an aim to
strengthen European security and stabilize the situation in the Balkans,"
said Andrei Nesterenko, the Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesman.

"The ministers will exchange views on European matters and discuss the
possibility of cooperation at a foreign policy level, including leading
international organizations," Nesterenko stressed.

"The task of strengthening legal framework in international relations
and the need to observe the basic principles of international law such as
respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states - remain
urgent," the Russian diplomat said.

"The Kosovo problem should be settled on the basis of this solid legal
foundation while the United Nations should preserve its leading role in
the settlement process," Nesterenko went on to say.

"Any change in the format of international civil presence in Kosovo
should be a priori approved by the United Nations Security Council and the
basic provisions fixed in the United Nations Security Council Resolution
No. 1244 should be observed.
Vuk Jeremic is visiting Russia shortly after the Serbian parliament
approved a new cabinet of ministers. The purpose of his visit to Moscow is
to continue a confidential political dialogue, discuss a set of topics in
the agenda of bilateral relations and confirm readiness to continue joint
efforts to implement fundamental agreements reached at high-level meetings
in Moscow and Belgrade over the past year," the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman stressed.
In recent years Russia and Serbia have expanded trade, economic and
investment relations. "It is vitally important that the sides signed
bilateral documents in the energy sector, such as an inter-government
agreement for cooperation in the oil and gas industry."
"An opportunity has opened up for Serbia to become a big regional
distribution centre, a vital link in pan-European interaction in the
strategic sphere of power engineering," he added.
"A solid long-term foundation is being created for our relations. It
holds out great benefits and advantages for both sides," the Russian
diplomat said. He added that the Russian and Serbian foreign ministers
would discuss how to put this agreement in force as soon as possible.