Lavrov Tells FM Djuric Russia Values Relationship with Serbia, Djuric Responds with Thanks over Kosovo

Marko Djuric (BETAPHOTO/MINISTARSTVO SPOLJNIH POSLOVA SRBIJE)

On Feb. 17 in Moscow, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and was told Russia values its ties with Serbia and the fact the relationship has stood the test of time.

“We value our relationship, which has stood the test of time, some of them very difficult times. [Our relationship] is based on our people’s friendly ties and the commitment to preserving the memory of the history of our friendship and the memory of events which plunged Europe into the most horrific world war, where the Serbs, too, along with many peoples of the Soviet Union suffered great losses, and one of the goals is to join efforts to prevent [another] such tragedy,” Lavrov said at the beginning of the meeting.

According to Russian media, Djuric’s opening words included passing on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s gratitude over Russia’s support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia with regards to Kosovo.

Prior to the sit-down, Djuric announced via a post on the X social network, that he began his visit to Russia with a tour of Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

“For eight decades, Serbia has, with dedication and pride, fostered a policy of remembrance of the historic fight against fascism and Nazism and of the fact that the deciding blow to the ideologies of hatred in the Second World War was dealt on the Eastern Front,” minister Djuric said.