Putin to Koštunica: Count on our staunch support
4 May 2008 | 18:37 | Source: B92, Tanjug
MOSCOW -- Russia's outgoing president, Vladimir Putin, today sent a letter
to Serbia's caretaker government head, Vojislav Koštunica.
Vladimir Putin (Tanjug)
Serbia, Putin said, can count on Russia's firm support for its Kosovo status
policy.
"Russia's stance remains unchanged. We believe that the unilateral
declaration of independence has dealt a serious blow to the principles of
international law," Putin, who is expected to take over as prime minister,
said in a message to the Serbian premier, set to battle to retain his
position in the Serbian elections next Sunday.
"We are ready to confront this dangerous trend with joint efforts. You can
count on our staunch support and solidarity," Putin wrote.
He further said his country is looking to establish "close cooperation with
Serbia, in a wider circle of international issues, in the name of peace and
stability in the Balkans, and a Europe without divisions".
"The Russian authorities are firmly dedicated to improving our relations in
other sectors, including perfecting the contractual-legal foundations,
developing industrial and transport cooperation, spreading of cultural,
scientific, educational and youth exchange," Putin stated in his message.
"I count on the deepening of cooperation between the Democratic Party of
Serbia, which you lead, and which maintains partnership with United Russia,"
Putin wrote to Koštunica.
"Such inter-party cooperation will contribute to a further development of
the Russo-Serbian ties, which we have managed to raise to a quality level
during these last several years," Putin concluded.
