Melnikov briefed Stefanovic that all the bodies have been constituted at the Russian Parliament and the process of creating the parliamentary friendship group with Serbia has been completed, with deputy Komin at its head. He hopes that the cooperation between the two parliaments will continue both at the level of governments and the level of parliaments.

Speaker Stefanovic deemed the recent meeting between Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi very important not only as a confirmation of the close relations, but also because of the concrete agreements that have been reached. He informed Melnikov that the Serbian Parliament would soon create a friendship group with Russia and hoped that the two parliaments’ committees would enjoy close contacts in the future.

As regards Kosovo, Speaker Stefanovic stressed that there would be no change in policy, expressing worry for the Serbs living south of the Ibar. Serbia is open for dialogue which should have a positive impact on the lives and existence of Serbs living in Kosovo-Metohija, said Stefanovic, sharing particular worry for the rampant unemployment which makes the position of the Serbs, along with the threat to their safety, all the worse.