Serbia and Montenegro - Russia's priority partner in Balkans

Russia regards Serbia and Montenegro as one of its priority partners in the Balkans, Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told RIA Novosti Monday with a view to the Balkan trip of the Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to take place on September 10-13.

The diplomat stressed that the upcoming meetings in Podgorica and Belgrade were "called to confirm adherence to the course of ensuring the succession of our relations and the readiness to boost interaction in their entire range." Yakovenko said that "successful accomplishment of Serbia and Montenegro's formation as a state would respond to the interests of enhancing Balkan stability." According to him, the Russian Foreign Ministry regards this format of settling Serb-Montenegrin relations as "optimal in terms of continuing democratic transformation in Serbia and Montenegro".