Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Leonid Slutskiy was on a one-day visit to Serbia, on which occasion he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Speaker of the National Assembly Ivica Dacic.
In the conversation with Slutskiy, Vucic pointed out that every meeting with a Russian official was a demonstration of the high degree of mutual understanding and trust characterizing the relations between Serbia and Russia.
He reminded of his recent telephone conversation with President Putin and said that the friendly relations between Serbia and Russia were being proven in the face of various challenges, including now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reiterated his deep gratitude for the deliveries of the Sputnik V vaccine.
President Vucic expressed gratitude for Russia's strong and active support in defending the integrity and independence of Serbia and its state and national interests.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutskiy said that Moscow was proud of the closest possible relations existing between our two countries, which was also demonstrated through frequent high-level contacts being maintained. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the area of economic cooperation between Serbia and Russia, emphasizing that he was pleased that joint infrastructure projects, such as the Stara Pazova-Novi Sad railway, as well as energy projects such as the gas pipeline from the Bulgarian to Hungarian borders, contributed to our country's economic prosperity.
Speaker of the National Assembly Ivica Dacic pointed out that the relations between the two states were close and friendly, and that they were further strengthened during the difficult times experienced across the globe amid the coronavirus pandemic. He thanked for the assistance that the Russian Federation provided to Serbia during the pandemic, emphasizing the personal contribution made by Leonid Slutskiy who, through the "Russian Peace Foundation" he is heading, sent a donation to Serbia in the form of medical and protective equipment at the very beginning of the epidemic.
Dacic took the opportunity to reiterate gratitude to the Russian Federation for the support it provided to the Republic of Serbia at the international level, and in particular with regard to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.
Leonid Slutskiy underlined that Serbia can always count on the support of Russia.
Belgrade, 17 February 2021