Konuzin: Russia backs Serbia's policy on Kosovo

He told there are a number of possibilities for improving the economic cooperation between Russia and Serbia, and added that the new Serbian government has approached the development of relations with Russia in that field in a very pragmatic way.

We will not interfere in any way in (Serbia's) decision-making mechanism. If we did, we would take responsibility for that policy, which we do not want, Konuzin pointed out.

We want Serbia to determine its position on its own and that this position suits the interests of the Serbs living in Kosovo, he said, adding that if Serbia finds some other solutions regarding the status of Kosovo, Russia will support that as well.

Speaking about the two countries' economic relations, Konuzin stressed that the new government negotiates and makes proposals very pragmatically and considers issues and problems very vigorously, adding that Russia already sees some progress in fostering economic relations.

I am an optimist and I believe we have entered a stage in which we raise our economic relations to a qualitatively higher level, Konuzin said.

He said that four years ago he proposed that a large number of agricultural producers in Serbia somehow be brought into contact with consumers in Russia.

According to Konuzin, there are 800,000 families in Serbia which live in the countryside and produce what the Russian market needs, which is why it is necessary to create a mechanism for exporting the goods to Russia.

We have initiated the continuation of work of the Agricultural Working Group within the Russian-Serbian Intergovernmental Committee on Trade, and it is already in operation, the ambassador said and voiced hope that there will be some concrete proposals to enhance the cooperation in this field.

He also believes it is not necessary to observe Serbia's relations with the EU and Russia as an alternative, adding that it would be best for Serbia to cooperate with both the EU and Russia, and that there are tangible opportunities for that.

I believe we can work on international projects on the territory of Serbia, from which Serbia, the EU and Russia will derive benefits, Konuzin concluded.