Lavrov reaffirms Moscow’s unity with Belgrade in protecting rights of Serbs — Russian MFA
Another issue discussed was cooperation in the oil sector amid illegal Western sanctions, the ministry said
MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and reaffirmed Moscow's solidarity with Belgrade in protecting the rights of the Serbian people, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the sides agreed it is unacceptable for Pristina to maintain its "long-standing sabotage of the agreements on the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities of Kosovo."
"A unified position was expressed on the need to stop the ongoing terror of Kosovo’s Albanian authorities against the region’s Serbs, and the violation of their basic rights. Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's solidarity with Belgrade in protecting the fundamental rights of the Serbian people in accordance with the principles of international law, as was repeatedly stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin," the ministry said.
Another issue discussed was cooperation in the oil sector amid illegal Western sanctions, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"A discussion took place about issues of bilateral cooperation in such areas as the oil industry and other areas of mutual interest. There was an exchange of views on ways to continue cooperation, which the West is trying to prevent by imposing illegal unilateral restrictive measures," the Foreign Ministry said.
Both sides also expressed concern about the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"It was reaffirmed that it is important to respect the status of entities and ethnicities that constitute the country in accordance with the General Framework (Dayton) Agreement on Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the sake of stability in that country," the ministry said.
The conversation took place at the initiative of Serbia.