Serbia Commits to Stronger Ties with Russia, Elusive about South Stream

Serbia’s government took an elusive position in the debate about the South Stream project, simply saying that Belgrade and Moscow “have always been on the same side.”

‘This is a favourable moment for Serbia to take a place on the Russian market, the Russian President said and added that there is an option to discuss cooperation in the organisation of the investment process from the Russian side and lending to Serbian agricultural businesses, Putin concluded,’ reads a note released by the Serbian government on Thursday.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin met with the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic in Belgrade.

According to the Kremlin, Russian-Serbian talks led to a string of agreements on military technology cooperation and on the exchange of information. It also came with a Memorandum of Understanding on energy.

The parts also declared that they will reach a solution beneficial for both countries on the South Stream project. Despite the declarations, the topic did not yet appear on any document released by the two governments. 

GAS DISRUPTIONS 

Moscow also voiced that risks are around the corner for the gas supplies through Ukraine. 

“There are large transit risks. If we see that our Ukrainian partners start illegally taking our gas from the export pipeline as it was in 2008, we will equally reduce the amount of supply as happened in 2008,” Putin added at the news conference in the Serbian capital.