Moscow ready to develop cooperation with Belgrade, says Moscow Mayor

Moscow is ready to intensively develop cooperation with Belgrade, said Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov on Wednesday during his meeting with Belgrade mayor Radmila Hrustanovic.

"Belgrade is the capital of a state that Russians have a special attitude to," Luzhkov pointed out. "We all were worried about the tragic events in Yugoslavia and Serbia," he stressed. Serbia "became a target of state terrorism and suffered a lot," Luzhkov said.

Now, however, "nothing hampers the contacts" between Moscow and Belgrade. An additional incentive would be Yugoslavia's state policy and its consolidated positions on the international arena, he believes.

Moscow welcomes the visit of the Belgrade administration and is sure it will "liven up" the relations between the two capitals, Luzhkov added.

The delegation headed by Hrustanovic has come to Moscow for an official visit on Luzhkov's invitation. The visit will last till June 27th.