Ahead of today's visit by the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic said that Russia was a serious and strong political partner of Serbia and that all meetings with representatives of this state were an opportunity to demonstrate mutual significance of the relations between the two countries.

Minister Selakovic said for RTS that the relations with Russia were highly important for Serbia and that the discussions with the Russian Minister today in Belgrade will not only include political issues, but also railway, energy, military and technical cooperation, vaccines and combating the coronavirus, namely all matters in the mutual interest of the two countries.

The Minister recalled that it was planned that the Russian President Vladimir Putin pays a visit to Serbia in October this year, but that its realization was largely hindered by covid, while stressing his hope that this visit will be realized.

"I hope that this visit will take place and that President Putin will attend the great consecration of the church. No-one can tell when this will happen", Minister Selakovic said.

He recalled that foreign trade cooperation between Serbia and Russia in the previous year amounted to over three billion dollars, which is a historic high and a top figure as well as a demonstration of the seriousness, significance and closeness of the relations between the two countries.

Referring to the speculations that the Serbia-Russia relations have cooled down after the signing of the Washington agreement, Minister Selakovic noted that the individuals sending such messages are being inconsistent because at one point they level criticism because of good relations, having an issue with the fact that the Serbian President was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, and then go on to say that the relations have cooled down.

Minister Selakovic said that the Russian Foreign Minister, a doyen of international diplomacy, will bring an Eternal Flame from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow to the Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators, as a symbol of brotherhood in arms and joint fight against the common enemies, Nazism and fascism.

He said that Minister Lavrov will meet with the Serbian President, President of the National Assembly, Foreign Minister, and that he will visit the Church of St. Sava - a modern symbol of cooperation, brotherhood and friendship between the two countries.

Minister Selakovic noted that Minister Lavrov will read out loud a letter by the Russian President at the St. Sava Church, lay flowers and light a candle at the tomb of Patriarch Irinej, during whose time "this temple was crowned".

Selakovic said that this was initiated by our Russian friends who assisted with the initial works on the mosaic, and that Serbia has managed to bring this to an end.

Source: Tanjug