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State Duma speaker: EU integration not to spoil Serbia’s integration with Russia

Sergey Naryshkin says he is sure EU integration will not hinder the development of Russia-Serbia relations, including economic ties
Protesters holding a banner that reads: "Serbia - Russia, we don't need European Commission" in front of the government building in Belgrade, March 21, 2015 AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic
Protesters holding a banner that reads: "Serbia - Russia, we don't need European Commission" in front of the government building in Belgrade, March 21, 2015
© AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic

MOSCOW, December 17 /TASS/. Serbia’s integration with the European Union should not hinder the development of economic ties with Russia, Russian State Duma Speaker Sergey Naryshkin said at a meeting with Maja Gojkovic, the president of Serbia’s National Assembly (parliament), on Thursday.

"Russia has never asked Serbia to make a choice ‘it’s either Russia or the European Union.’ It is important that the EU integration does not hinder the development of our relations, including economic ties. I am sure that it is possible," Naryshkin said adding it understood Russia’s desire to integrate with the European Union.

"We respect this desire and this policy pursued by Serbia," the Russian State Duma speaker said.

He also confirmed Russia’s stance on Kosovo to Serbia.

"We are confirming once again our position of principle, Russia’s position on the Kosovo problem," Naryshkin told Maja Gojkovic on Thursday.

"Russia’s stance is based on norms of international law above all, including the well-known UN Security Council resolution 1244 (adopted in 1999)," he stressed.