Russia wants to see UN participation in Kosovo dialogue

Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin has said that his country believes UN representatives should attend negotiations between Belgrade and Priština.

Aleksandr Konuzin (Tanjug)

The talks in question were launched in March 2011 and are sponsored by the EU.
Addressing reporters in Belgrade on Wednesday, Konuzin added that Russia was supporting Serbia because Serbia was adhering to international law when it came to solving the Kosovo problem.

Asked whether Russia was ready to become directly involved in the negotiations, the ambassador said this was up to the sides in the dispute.

"I believe the UN should be present as the Kosovo problem is being regulated," he stated, and added that the fact the United Nations did not have this role until now was the result "of a unilateral decision".

"We consider Serbia to be strictly adhering to international law;" Konuzin said after a ceremony in Belgrade honoring the fallen Serb and Russian First World War-era soldiers.

President Putin wishes to visit Serbia, ambassador confirms

Source: Tanjug

BELGRADE -- Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Konuzin said on Wednesday that he knew that Russian President Vladimir Putin wished to visit Serbia.

(Beta/AP, file)

However, he could not say when the trip might take place.
Moscow-based daily Kommersant recently reported, quoting sources with the Gazprom company, that the president could travel to Serbia as soon as this coming fall.

Asked whether Putin can be expected here soon, Konuzin replied: "Putin wishes to come here, but I still do not know whether he will."

According to Kommersant, "the new authorities in Serbia expected Putin to arrive even earlier - but this would likely happen when construction starts on the South Stream pipeline".

Vladimir Putin was previously in Belgrade in March 2011, when he served as his country's prime minister.