MOSCOW, September 29. /TASS/. Russia highly values the course Aleksandar Vucic pursued as Serbia's president, which advanced bilateral dialogue despite intense Western pressure on Belgrade, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Serbia's snap parliamentary and presidential elections.

"Vucic's resignation as head of state marked an important stage in the country's democratic process. He has announced his intention to continue working for the benefit of the Serbian people as prime minister after a new government is formed. We highly value his many years of personal contribution to deepening Russian-Serbian relations. The dynamic political dialogue and contacts attest to the results of those efforts. They have remained at a high level despite the anti-Russian campaign launched by the collective West and its constant, intense pressure on Belgrade to abandon its friendship with Russia, a demand that has proved futile," she said.