All news

Serbia has no plans to introduce anti-Russian sanctions, says foreign minister

Serbia is grateful to Russia for its support of Serbia’s territorial integrity

BELGRADE, November 26. /TASS/. Serbia is grateful to Russia for its support of Serbia’s territorial integrity, and it has no plans to introduce sanctions against Russia, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told TASS on Monday during the opening ceremony of the "Serbia - Russia, Yugoslavia - USSR" exhibition in Belgrade.

"Russia supports Serbia’s territorial integrity, including on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. We thank Russia for its recent support during the Interpol General Assembly. Yes, today we find ourselves on the European path, but the European path will not be an obstacle for kind relations with Russia, so Serbia will not introduce sanctions against Russia," the minister said.

Dacic also commented upon the energy issue, noting that Belgrade welcomes Moscow’s plans to construct the Turkish Stream gas pipeline through Serbia’s territory. "The Turkish Stream would provide Serbia with gas and turn it into a transit country," the minister noted.

In May 2017, Gazprom began construction of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream near the Russian Black Sea coast. The project involved construction of the gas pipeline through the Black Sea to the European part of Turkey and further to the border with Greece. The length of the sea part of the pipe is expected at around 930 km.

The first line will be intended for the Turkish market, the second will provide gas supply to the countries of South and South-Eastern Europe. The capacity of each line reaches 15.75 bln cubic meters of gas per year. The first gas supplies were planned for the end of 2019.