Belgrade - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on September 11 to discuss strengthening economic cooperation, his office said Thursday.
Nikolic, who met with Russia's deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov, said he would support stronger economic ties between Belgrade and Moscow that would include more Russian investments into Serbian economy, a statement from his office said.
“This will be a key topic for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi on September 11,” the statement said, without disclosing further details.
Nikolic, a conservative nationalist who in May presidential polls defeated pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic, has already met Putin shortly after his victory.
At the time, Putin promised the Serbs, who he had described as “Russia's spiritual brothers” an $800 million loan, expected to be invested in various infrastructure projects.
Russia had previously agreed a $1 billion loan for Serbia but so far only $200 million of this has been disbursed.
Moscow's major investments in Serbia are notably in the energy field. In 2009, Russian oil giant Gazprom bought Serbian oil company NIS.
Nikolic has always been staunchly pro-Russian but insisted that Serbia would pursue its path towards the EU membership.
Serbia in March obtained EU candidate status but has yet to meet conditions to secure a date for opening talks. Brussels has made it clear it wants to see more progress in relations with breakaway Kosovo.
Russia is a steadfast supporter of Belgrade's refusal to recognise the unilateral declaration of independence of its former province in 2008. - Sapa-AFP