Serbian Ambassador to Russia: Belgrade-Moscow Relations Not Undermined

Moscow (Pixabay)

Serbia’s Ambassador to Russia Miroslav Lazanski has said that the relations between Belgrade and Moscow had passed all the tests and that the document signed in Washington has not undermined the ties, which is evidenced with the upcoming visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Belgrade.

“I do not know of any other European country which Lavrov has visited twice in a year,” Lazanski told the Oct. 27 issue of Belgrade daily Politika, recalling that Russian President Vladimir Putin has paid three visits to Serbia over four years.  

Lazanski stressed that Russia respected Serbia’s military neutrality and did not mind Serbia’s EU path, but that Moscow would “be hurt” if Serbia joined NATO.

“I know that some circles in Belgrade would like to hear rustling in the relations between Serbia and Russia, such titles in the media attract attention, but there is no any sensationalism there,” Lazanski said and confirmed that he had not been summoned to meeting following Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s meeting with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

“There have been no negative comments in relation to the diversification of energy supply, after all, President Vucic has said that Serbia will be buying the cheapest gas, which is Russian gas. Liquefied gas from the U.S. has not even departed for Europe,” Lazanski noted.