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Russian parliament speaker thanks Serbia for its refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions

Moscow values Belgrade’s principled position, despite all the pressure from outside, Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko says
Valentina Matviyenko Anna Isakova/TASS
Valentina Matviyenko
© Anna Isakova/TASS

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Speaker of Russia’s Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko on Tuesday thanked Serbia for its principled position and refusal to join the anti-Russian sanctions despite all the pressure from outside.

“We value Serbia’s principled position in respect of Russia. Despite the pressure exerted on Serbia, it has said definitely and clearly that it was not going to join sanctions against Russia. It is a principled position on the backdrop of the Russophobic campaign unfolding in Europe. It is an absolutely pragmatic position, since Serbia is interested in closer cooperation with Russia,” she said at a meeting with Serbia’s parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic.

“Serbia has demonstrated itself as a reliable partner on the issue of the South Stream project,” Matviyenko noted. “I think today we have all the possibilities and Russia is ready to develop relations with Serbia in the energy sphere. There are a lot of projects and proposals we plan to realize.”

“We value the position of proud and independent Serbia, which has its own point of view,” Matviyenko stressed.