“Russia won’t change its position on Kosovo”

SOURCE: BETA
SOCHI -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that his country has not changed its stance on Kosovo and that it “supports Serbian friends” in talks with Priština.

 

Vladimir Putin (Beta/AP)
He told a press conference after a meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić in Sochi on Friday that Russia continued to advocate a solution for Kosovo that would be in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and be acceptable to both sides.

The Serbian president said that Serbia and he personally were grateful to Russia for its stance on Kosovo “that everything that is good for Serbia is good for Russia”.

Putin announced that Russia would continue to “encourage” Russian companies to invest in Serbia.

He announced that another EUR 1.5bn would be invested in the Oil Industry of Serbia (NIS) and reiterated that Russia would invest USD 1.7bn in the construction of South Stream gas pipeline.

Putin stressed that Russia had approved several loans to Serbia, both to prop up the state budget and to reconstruct infrastructure in the country.

The Serbian president noted that the two countries’ cooperation in politics, economy, culture and science was very good and that it was constantly improving.

He added that Serbia highly appreciated Russia’s support in development and strengthening of friendly relations and that Putin would be presented with the Order of the Republic of Serbia in Belgrade as a sign of gratitude.

Putin said that Russia “symbolically” helped Belgrade renovate and rebuild Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo.

After the signing of the agreement, Nikolić and Putin read their statements and reporters were not allowed to ask questions.