Sergei Lavrov appreciates Serbian support: Belgrade supports friendship with Russia and South Stream

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has visited Serbia - one of few European countries that has maintained friendly relations with Moscow after start of the Ukrainian crisis. Serbian leaders assured their guest: Belgrade doesn’t choose between the EU and Russia, and the implementation of the South Stream project serves the national interests of Serbia.

Sergey Lavrov's visit caused a great stir in Belgrade. The guest had to do statements to local journalists after barely getting off the plane. "We have a lot of strategic and economic projects, projects in the humanitarian sphere, - he said. - We are convinced that this is in the interests of the Russian and Serbian peoples". And when the Russian delegation went to lay wreaths at the memorial in honour of the liberators of Belgrade and monument to Soviet soldiers, the guests were met by dozens of residents of the Serbian capital with Russian flags in their hands. They cheered in unison as soon as the motorcade of the Minister arrived at the memorial, the Minister clapped in response that enraptured the crowd. A local activist of the patriotic organization “Zavetnitsi" presented a T-shirt with the words "Serbia and Russia are brothers forever" to the guest. "Russia is our second home, and Serbia should join the Eurasian integration," - she said to the Kommersant.