Minister Dačić meets with the Russian Ambassador

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić received Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko today, with a view to exchanging congratulatory messages of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, on the occasion of the 185th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his congratulatory message addressed to Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Minister Dačić highlighted the importance of this major anniversary, stating that the “Serbia–Russia relations throughout history, regardless of which official framework they may have had, have always been imbued with the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding, and based on our common Slavic origin, spirituality, faith and culture”.

The letter highlighted the mutual support, alliance and major sacrifices during the Serbian struggle for liberation in the 19th century and in both of the World Wars, commemorated by numerous monuments. In that context, Minister Dačić restated in his letter his “deep gratitude for the consistent and unwavering support to our territorial integrity and sovereignty” in the matter of Kosovo and Metohija.

Ambassador Botsan-Kharchenko gave Minister Dačić a congratulatory message from Minister Lavrov, which confirmed the Russian side's readiness for a further comprehensive development of relations, as well as their confidence “that the experience of working together will continue to be a strong foundation for Russia–Serbia cooperation”.

He also used the opportunity to give Minister Dačić a congratulatory message from Minister Lavrov on the occasion of the upcoming Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia.