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Vucic expresses dissatisfaction with circumstances of cancellation of Lavrov's visit

Sergey Lavrov was scheduled to visit Serbia on June 6-7, but the minister's plane was denied passage in the airspace of countries surrounding Serbia

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

© Russian Foreign Ministry/TASS

BELGRADE, June 6. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has taken a negative attitude towards the refusal of Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia and Montenegro to provide an air corridor for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's plane, making his visit to Belgrade impossible, the President noted during a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko.

"President Vucic expressed dissatisfaction with the circumstances that prevented the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. He said that Serbia, against all odds, would defend its independence and autonomy in political decision-making, continue its European path while maintaining traditional friendly and partnership relations with countries on all continents, and continue to observe military neutrality," the Serbian leader's press service said in a statement following the meeting.

The upcoming visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic to Moscow was also discussed during the talks.

Lavrov was scheduled to visit Serbia on June 6-7, but as Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed, the minister's plane was denied passage in the airspace of countries surrounding Serbia.

Serbia's national television reported on Sunday that the republic's president, Aleksandar Vucic, would address Monday at 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Moscow time) about Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro closing their airspace to Lavrov's plane.

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