Lavrov to visit Serbia, discuss energy cooperation, interaction in OSCE
MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is departing for a working visit to Serbia, where he will hold negotiations with the Serbian leadership, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In particular, Lavrov is expected to meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.
"The upcoming contacts will be a good opportunity for coordinating positions on the key issues on the bilateral and international agenda, assessing the progress of the agreements that have been reached and outlining prospects for future relations," the ministry said.
Lavrov and the Serbian leaders "plan to substantively discuss interaction in the OSCE in the context of the Serbian chairmanship of the organization in 2015," it said.
"The OSCE and Serbia's chairmanship play an important role in promoting the settlement of the internal crisis in Ukraine. Russia stands ready to further engage in mediation efforts within the Contact Group on Ukraine and to support the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to the country," it said.
Russia also expects that regular events will be held within the OSCE framework on combating terrorism and drug trafficking and on electoral monitoring, it said.
"There is a need for the OSCE's additional efforts to stabilize the situation in the Balkans, primarily in light of the worsening situation in Macedonia," it said.
The negotiations will also concern import substitution measures in light of Russia's countermeasures to the EU sanctions, it said.
"Considering the imposition of limitations on imports of agricultural products from EU countries in response to the Western restrictions, a favorable situation has arisen for stepping up such deliveries from Serbia," it said.
The Russian-Serbian negotiations will also address cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in light of the idea to set up a major gas hub on the Turkish-Greek border as part of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, it said.
"We are convinced that energy interaction with Belgrade will be successfully continued, both regarding supplies of Russian gas to Serbia through the existing route and in respect to the idea of setting up a major gas hub on the Turkish-Greek border to supply Southeast European countries in the future," it said.
"The Serbian leadership has made the decision on phasing out the South Stream project with the understanding, as its implementation has become impossible because of the European Union's unconstructive actions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Special significance in the Russian-Serbian dialogue has been given to maintaining peace and stability in the Balkans region, primarily as regards the Kosovo settlement efforts, the Foreign Ministry said. "Serbia can still fully rely on Russia's support in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity as concerns Kosovo," it said.