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Serbia interested in developing military cooperation with Russia — president

The Serbian president was surprised with the fact that neighboring Croatia is holding talks on purchasing ballistic missile defense systems from Norway
Serbian security forces  EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC
Serbian security forces
© EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC

BELGRADE, January 11. /TASS/. Serbia is interested in developing military and technical cooperation with Russia, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin in Belgrade on Monday.

"Serbia will not ask for any concessions, although we have reasons to expect much from Russia," the president said, noting he was surprised with the fact that neighboring Croatia is holding talks on purchasing ballistic missile defense systems from Norway.

"We are not going to start a war with Croatia," Nikolic said, expressing his gratitude to Russia for its "concerns over Serbia’s security."

Rogozin assured Nicolic that he would fulfill Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order to "study and figure out the Serbian needs" as soon as possible.

"Dmitry Rogozin said the Russian president highly assessed of relations between the two countries," the press service of the Serbian president said.

"We need to take additional efforts to enhance military, technical and economic relations," Rogozin said.

"As for Kosovo, Russia and justice are on Serbia’s side, so we need to be patient and not recognize the independence of Kosovo, which Russia will never do," the press service said.

The Serbian president thanked Vladimir Putin for the support at the UN Security Council sidelines and asked Russia to help Serbian businessmen with the access to the Russian market.