MOSCOW, December 19. /TASS/. Serbia's top diplomat has lamented abandonment of the Russian-led South Stream pipeline project taking Russian gas under the Black Sea to Europe, pledging that his country would press for its resumption.

The Balkan state needed it, visiting Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday after talks with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

“All of us are disappointed," the minister noted, adding that “this is a project in which all of us invested together in economic and energy terms. Serbia needs this project as it guarantees energy security in the country.”

Serbia's president had discussed the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Premier Dmitry Medvedev, the diplomat said.

“They will continue talks,” he added, noting that “at our level, we will certainly back talks to find opportunities in any variant agreed upon with the European Union so Serbia’s interests would not be neglected,” Dacic said.

“We should find an opportunity so implementation of this strategically important project for Serbia will be continued.”.