Vucic with Putin in Moscow, economic cooperation in focus

Serbian Prime Minister Vucic is visiting Moscow, where he will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin and the focus of conversations will be economic cooperation of two countries, but also of Serbia and Eurasian Union.

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This will be the tenth meeting of Vucic and Putin, and Serbian PM before going to Moscow said to the reporters that Serbia plans to improve economic relations with Russia and to elevate the level of trade exchange .

He said that Serbia wants to attract more Russian investors, who are not related only to energetics.

According to his words, there are few ideas about factories of machines and cars, which would have their plans in Serbia, and with 51% of Serbian components could be exported to foreign markets.

Vucic said that talking with Russian president is of extreme political, economic and every other significance for Serbia, adding that he "feels proud when he represents the interests of his people".

As he said, there will be words about very important subject - military - technological cooperation.

He explained, that if Russian president signs the decree, and there technical possibility for that, only the question remains when will Serbia receive the equipment.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

Vucic will propose Serbia for the leader of Summit between Serbia - Eurasian Union by the end of the summer, or autumn, with the participation of businessmen of all five member countries.

Currently, 91 percent of the total trade of Serbia with the Eurasian Union takes place with Russia.

The aim is further liberalization of the single free trade agreement with the Eurasian Union and the signing of the agreement that would formalize the issue.

Serbia's goal is primarily to preserve the degree of liberalization with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as to expand the list of goods for export, including Fiat automobiles, and to further strengthen its relations with Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

It is also important to liberalize the export of meat, poultry, and to provide better conditions for the marketing of cheese, sugar and cigarettes.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

Last year, Serbia recorded a growth in exports to Russia by 9.7 percent, but has not yet reached the level of 2014 due to falling of ruble.

Otherwise, a trade deficit of 716 million dollars on our side is the lowest that Serbia ever had in foreign trade with Russia.

If we exclude energy - gas and oil - which represent 52 percent of our imports, Serbia would have a surplus in trade with Russia.

As for military cooperation, a request has been presented to Russian side about getting favorable conditions for the acquisition Buk system, in order to improve the ability of anti-aircraft defense, after the Croatian army was "reinforced" with ballistic missiles from NATO Program.

Also, Serbia should receive modernized tanks T-72 and armored reconnaissance vehicles BRDM-2M.

Minister of Defense for Zoran Djordjevic, as well as the Minister of Labor, Social and Veterans' Affairs Aleksandar Vulin have traveled with PM Vucic to Russia.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)