11 June 2004 11:56
Serbia-Montenegro wants Russia`s "massive economic expansion" - minister
[Presenter] A presidential election will be held in Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday 13 June. Serbia has lived without
a president since late 2000, with elections having been declared invalid due to low turnout. This is the background
against which the country's foreign minister, Vuk Draskovic, paid a visit to Russia. Its outcomes will determine
whether the lengthy pause in the relations between our two countries will end. The Serbian foreign minister had meetings
with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, as well as with Federation Council speaker Sergey Mironov and the head of
the Russian Security Council, Igor Ivanov. Mr Draskovic has told us about the course of those talks and their
outcomes.
Mr Minister, Russia withdrew its military contingent from Kosovo since Russian military presence could not have a
significant effect on the situation in Serbia. Nevertheless, Serbian political analysts believe that Russia's role
in the Balkans could be more active. What are your views of this role?
[Vuk Draskovic, in Serbian with Russian translation superimposed] Russia is providing constant assistance to Serbia
and Montenegro. After 17 March 2004, when tens of thousands Albanians took part in ethnic cleansing against Serbs,
Russia was among those countries that gave us most support, and I would like to stress that.
We demand that the international community help us to restore all destroyed churches and monasteries. We demand that
they are granted international protection as world cultural heritage. Russia, which has influence in international
organizations and on the UN Security Council in particular, can help us in this.
[Presenter] Which areas of economic cooperation between Russia and Serbia do you consider to be most promising?
[Vuk Draskovic] We expect Russia's massive economic expansion into our country's economy. Here are just few
of the projects on which agreement has already been reached: construction of oil and gas pipelines, cooperation in
privatization of banks, power generation and tourist facilities. In addition, we have agreed on construction projects
and an increase in the export of some goods from Serbia and Montenegro to Russia.
[Russia TV] |
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