Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today after the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the relations between the two countries are excellent and that Serbia counts on Russia's support in all international organizations, just as Russia can on Serbia's support in them.
Vučić told reporters in Sochi after the meeting with Putin that Serbia did not vote for any international act that was against Russia.
He said that people in Serbia "appreciate Putin more than they did some previous Russian leaders."
Vučić stated that Serbia "would not have been bombed in 1999 if Putin was in power in Russia at that time".
"I conveyed expectations on the issue of negotiations with the Albanian side, bearing in mind their announcements," said Vučić, speaking of the meeting in Sochi, and added that the Albanian side "is trying to extract only recognition, without Serbia getting anything."
He assessed that the trade cooperation between the two countries is growing and added that he received assurances from Putin that Serbia will be able to buy additional quantities of gas regardless of the talks between Russia and Ukraine.
At a joint press conference in Sochi, Vučić expressed his gratitude to Putin for his constant and unequivocal support for Serbia and the Serbian people.
He said that he expects Putin to attend the ceremony marking the completion of the work on the Temple of Saint Sava next year.
"I hope that next year he will be in Serbia and together with us will open the Church of St. Sava, one of the most important and largest Orthodox churches in the world," said Vučić.
Putin: Russia is ready to support possible compromise solutions if they benefit Belgrade
Putin stated after the meeting with Vučić that Russia's position regarding Kosovo remains unchanged, but that it is ready to support compromise solutions if they are in favor of Serbia.
"The basis for regulating the problem must remain Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, where the basic rules of conflict resolution are defined, including respect for territorial integrity, as well as ensuring the legal interests of all ethnic groups in that region," said the Russian president at a joint press conference.
"At the same time, Russia is ready to support possible compromise solutions for the Kosovo problem, if they are reached between Belgrade and Pristina. Of course, we will support Serbia's position without conditions," Putin said.
He stated that Vučić and his conversation today in Sochi was "very useful and meaningful", and that it will certainly contribute to the further development of Russian-Serbian friendship and strategic friendship.
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