For the second time, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Djordje Milicevic is taking part in the Forum “Development of Parliamentarism” in Moscow. At a press conference organized on the occasion he thanked the organizers for the invitation extended to the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on behalf of National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic and himself.
Milicevic said that Serbia greatly appreciates its relationship with the Russian Federation, the excellent bilateral relations reaching across the board, strategic partnership and close relations between the nations grounded in traditional friendship, cultural and historical ties that are an example of true friendship and brotherhood, mutual respect, trust and cooperation.
He said that what lends a special boost to the two countries’ excellent relations is the close relationship between two presidents, Aleksandar Vucic and Vladimir Putin, who had already met twice this year - during the Russian President’s historic visit to Serbia on 17 January 2019 and at the 2nd One Belt One Road Forum in Beijing on 26 April of the year.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia applauded the Russian Federation’s return to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
“I would like to take the opportunity to commend the Russian Federation’s return to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which the Serbian delegation urged for the whole time”, said Milicevic.
Milicevic added that the bilateral cooperation between Russia and Serbia is intense and fruitful as evidenced by the numerous high-level visits.
The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia thanked Russia for its principled stance on Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and support in the Kosovo-Metohija issue at the multilateral level, especially its opposition to the self-declared state of Kosovo’s attempt to join UNESCO, INTERPOL, World Customs Organization and other international organizations.
In the course of the Forum, Milicevic also gave an interview for the State Duma’s parliamentary channel, highlighting the excellent bilateral relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation that continue to follow an upward trend and praising the good interparliamentary cooperation and establishment of the State Duma - National Assembly Cooperation Commission.
“I am especially proud of the good and intensive parliamentary cooperation. I am happy to say that the National Assembly’s cooperation with both houses of the Russian Parliament has reached the highest form. The fourth session of the Russian State Duma - National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Cooperation Commission on 3 June in Belgrade was an excellent opportunity to deepen this cooperation even further”, said Milicevic. He underlined the fact that the PFG with Russia with its 134 members is the biggest one in the National Assembly.
He also praised the economic cooperation between the two countries, stressing that the Russian Federation is one of Serbia’s strategic economic and leading foreign trade partners, as well as Serbia’s interest in being part of the TurkStream project.
In the course of the interview, Milicevic also stated that EU accession and maintaining good and friendly relations with its traditional friends such as the Russian Federation are Serbia’s foreign policy priorities. The country is also determined to preserve its military neutrality and independence in terms of foreign policy, in the interest of peace, stability and security.
