FM once again receives Russian and EU diplomats

FM once again receives Russian and EU diplomats

BELGRADE -- Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandr Chepurin has conveyed his country's position on the situation in Ukraine to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić.

Chepurin met with Mrkić on Wednesday and conveyed a message from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, but did not elaborate on the content of the message.

Mrkić and Chepurin also discussed other issues of interest to their countries, the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Mrkić met with EU Delegation in Serbia head Michael Davenport, who told him that EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wished to visit Serbia after a new government had been formed.

Last week, also during the same day, the Serbian foreign minister received both Davenport and Cheprin, who relayed messages from Brussels and Moscow.

Speaking at a gathering on Friday, Davenport said that Brussels expected Serbia to understand the seriousness of the situation related to Ukraine, and that the EU expects candidate countries to support its foreign policy positions.

Speaking over the weekend, Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić said that Serbia's view concerning the situation in Ukraine "has to be and will be completely responsible" - and will not be adopted by the outgoing government.