Putin's visit "beneficial for both countries, and Europe"

Putin's visit "beneficial for both countries, and Europe"

BELGRADE -- The Russian-Serbian cooperation is beneficial not only for the two countries, but also for Europe and the world as a whole, Aleksandr Chepurin has said.

Speaking ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Belgrade scheduled for October 16, the Russian ambassador to Serbia stressed that the visit is not directed against anyone and that its aim is to improve bilateral relations.

"Putin has always paid attention to everything related to Serbia, and there is a wish to strengthen the ties with Serbia," Chepurin told reporters during a break in the scientific conference, "Serbia and Russia 1814-1914-2014," held at the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU).

Several bilateral agreements will be signed during Putin's visit, including the ones on economic cooperation, Chepurin pointed out.

Russia's economic cooperation with some other countries in the world has grown more difficult recently, Chepurin noted, and expressed the hope that Russia will establish as close cooperation with other countries as with Serbia.

The Russian ambassador said that Putin will meet in Belgrade with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, and attend a meeting of the two countries' delegations.

Putin will attend a military parade marking the 70 years since the liberation of Belgrade from German occupation.

According to Chepurin, the officials are also planned to lay a wreath at the memorial to fallen soldiers of the Red Army who, alongside Yugoslav Partisans, liberated the Serbian capital on October 20, 1944.

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