stary.prochazka
02.06.04, 12:31
agencja ITAR-TASS raz jeszcze
Kostunica prioritises widening econ cooperation with Russia
BELGRADE, June 2 (Itar-Tass) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica
arrives in Russia on Wednesday for his first visit as Head of the Serbian
government.
In an interview to foreign journalists, Kostunica said Russia's support
for "our striving to build stable and functional institutions of (state)
power in the state community of Serbia and Montenegro" is particularly
important to Serbia. He also pointed out that this would contribute to
strengthening "stability throughout the region".
Kostunica said that, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
he intends to discuss matters aimed at "broadening and strengthening
bilateral economic cooperation", which, he said, "Is a priority to Serbia".
"It would be ideal if we succeed in elevating our economic contacts to the
level of political ones," he said. In so doing, he referred to relations
between Serbia and Russia as "friendly and close". Kostunica said the
republic welcomes Russian capital's participation in the privatisation
process in Serbia.
The Serbian Premier emphasised an important role that Russia plays as a
Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council and as a member of
the Contact Group in efforts towards settling the Kosovo problem in the
Balkans.
"Of particular importance to us is Russia's principled position on the
inalterability of borders in the region. This position promotes the
maintenance of stability and peace in the Balkans, and, on the other hand,
contributes to asserting dialogue as a method to resolve the problem. Russia
has been warning for a long time that the situation in Kosovo and Metohija
has been rather hard and that the policy being pursued there up to this date
has been to no avail," he said.
Kostunica intends to inform the Russian leadership of the plan, adopted by
the Serbian government several weeks ago, for a solution to the Kosovo
Territory problem. The plan provides for the granting of autonomy to the Serb
minority in the Territory.