Dacic: Political solution for Ukraine

BELGRADE - Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Thursday that Serbia sees both Ukraine and Russia as friendly countries, and expressed hope that Ukraine's problems will get a political solution.

We regret the latest developments and I hope that a political solution will be found for these problems, Dacic told reporters.

He emphasized that Serbia wants to take a constructive approach, maintaining its friendly relations with Russia and appreciating Ukraine's principled stance on Kosovo-Metohija.

Dacic underlined that Serbia's need to join the EU will certainly not disturb its good relations with Russia.

"Russia has been our long-time friend, and our EU membership does not mean that our friendship should end,” said Dacic, adding that the EU countries have not interrupted their relations with Russia and therefore he sees no reason for Serbia to do it either.

Referring to the current situation involving the Ukrainian and the Crimean authorities, Dacic pointed out that the example of unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija is detrimental to the international community.

We have been referring to this from the start (of the process of KiM declaring independence) because it puts a big question mark over unresolved issues in other regions of the world, said Dacic.

Dacic, who is also Minister of the Interior, has previously presented an Android application that provides information on the Interior Ministry's activities to the citizens.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Marko Trosic