Vucic: Serbia Would Not Have Been Bombed Had Putin Been President in 1999

Aleksandar Vucic with Vladimir Putin (Photo: Dimitrije Goll)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic assessed on Dec. 4, after the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, that relations between the two countries were excellent and that Serbia counted on Russia's support in all international organizations, just like Russia can count on Serbia's support there.

Vucic told reporters in Sochi after the meeting with Putin that Serbia had not voted for any international act against Russia. He said people in Serbia "appreciate Putin more than they did some earlier Russian leader."

Vucic said that Serbia "would not have been bombed in 1999 had Putin been in power in Russia at that time."

"I have conveyed the expectations pertaining to negotiations with the Albanian side, bearing in mind what they have announced," Vucic said about the meeting in Sochi, adding that the Albanian side was "trying to importune the recognition and leave Serbia with nothing."

He assessed that trade between Serbia and Russia was growing and that Putin assured him that Serbia would be able to purchase additional quantities of gas, regardless of the talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Commenting on military cooperation with Russia, Vucic described it as excellent and said that Serbia had "purchased many powerful and good items from Russia."