inserbia.info <http://inserbia.info/today/2016/07/nuland-we-are-not-asking-serbia-to-choos e/>
Nuland: We are not asking Serbia to choose InSerbia with agencies BELGRADE - The US understands that Serbia has traditionally strong ties with Russia and it sees no contradiction with Belgrade having good relations with both Russia and the United States, US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said in Belgrade Monday. The US is proud to have Serbia as a partner, she said after a meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. "We understand that Serbia has long ties with Russia. We don't see any contradiction with Serbia having a good relationship with Russia and a good relationship with the US - we would never ask friends or allies to choose," Nuland said. The US will always support Serbia on its European route, she said. Nuland also highlighted the role Serbia has in the region, in regional cooperation and reconciliation. The US also sees as very important the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, she said. "The US is enormously proud to be Serbia's partner as Serbia continues on its democratic transition, strengthening rule of law, strengthening media freedoms, strengthening the environment for investments, and we are particularly proud to support Serbia's European choice," she said. Earlier in the day, Nuland also had separate meetings with Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, a parliamentary delegation and a group of civil society representatives, including Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic and Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection.
