Medvedev: Serbia to push Kosovo process,not Russia

Russia should not be the one to push this process through, but rather Serbia. It should be in the interest of Serbia to resolve this issue in a proper way, Medvedev said.
The Russian prime minister said that the Serbian side should be the one to define the essential interest, and initiate separate talks regarding this issue.

He said at a joint press conference after a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic that Russia understands how much the Kosovo issue matters to Serbs, adding that Russia always raises this issue.

Medvedev said that he has recently got an impression that more is expected from Russia than from Serbia itself.

This is not right. You should decide on what stand you would take, Medvedev underlined.

This topic should be raised before the UN and in the negotiations with the EU, he said.

Medvedev underlined that Russia will support Serbia on this issue.
We will always support the stand formulated by Serbia's top officials, Medvedev said.

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia has every intention of resuming the dialogue on the Kosovo issue and achieving a sustainable solution.

Serbia cannot accept the principles offered in Brussels as they do not guarantee the full security and protection of the Serbs' rights in Kosovo, he noted.
The signing of such a document would not lead to a definitive and sustainable solution for the problem in the province, Dacic said.

Serbia would like Russia to have an active role in resolving the Kosovo issue, he said.
"We must consult with Russia," Dacic said.

We should not take moves that would have repercussions that could be difficult to remedy, he said, adding that such was the decision to transfer the talks on Kosovo from the UN level to the EU one.

The talks were transferred to the EU, and now Serbia calls on Russia to help it get them back to the UN, he said.

Dacic said that Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.

The Serbian authorities are interested in protecting the Serbs living in Kosovo, and thus want to resume the dialogue with Pristina and get the talks back under the auspices of the UN.
Dacic and Putin for strengthening cooperation

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed Wednesday that the two countries should strengthen their cooperation in all areas.

At the beginning of their meeting, Putin expressed conviction the Serbian prime minister's visit to Moscow will serve as an impetus to the development of bilateral relations on the whole, and economic relations in particular.

He recalled that trade between the two countries was down last year, but a growth of 38 percent was recorded early this year, calling this a good sign.

The Russian president sent his regards to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and invited him to visit Russia whenever he can.

Dacic first thanked Russia on the principled support of its leadership to Serbia in the defense of its sovereignty when it comes to its southern province of Kosovo.

The Serbian people know and remember this, and consider Russia Serbia's greatest friend, he said.

Dacic also spoke in favor of boosting cooperation in all areas, including politics, economy, defense and security.

He stressed Serbia is in particular need of this under contemporary circumstances, when its geostrategic position is made difficult by the fact it is surrounded by NATO member countries.

Dacic:  Russia supports Serbia's EU path

BELGRADE - Russia supports Serbia on its EU path because this is Serbia's choice, but it does not imply that it should be forgotten that Russia is Serbia's best and first friend, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated in Moscow on Wednesday.

In an interview for the Belgrade-based Television Pink, Dacic underscored that this is a very important period in the diplomatic relations between Serbia and Russia and a crucial time for creation of mutual trust between them.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev never said a word as to whether Serbia should follow its EU path or not, Dacic said.