BELGRADE. June 17 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised Serbia's policy of seeking "the unification of Europe and not its division."
Lavrov, who arrived on Monday for a two-day visit to the former Yugoslav republic, said he was "very pleased to be in Belgrade." "I'm grateful to my friend Ivica Dacic for the invitation," he said in reference to the Serbian foreign minister, who welcomed him at Belgrade airport.
"I expect that during this visit we will be able to discuss all issues that exist in our bilateral relations. We have a lot of strategic and economic projects, and cultural projects. And we are convinced that this is in the interests of the Russian and Serbian peoples," Lavrov said.
"And, undoubtedly, international regional issues too - this is always on our agendas, - the Balkans, and the general activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, where Serbia will hold the chairmanship next year," the Russian minister said in reference to issues to be raised during his visit.
"And, of course, we want a greater Europe without any dividing lines, so that all the countries that are here, the members of the European Union, those of the Eurasian Economic Community, and all others, live in a common economic and cultural space," he said.