Serbia: Lavrov praises Belgrade for charting the path of "true Europe"

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Serbian-Russian relations, stating that the Belgrade has charted an appropriate course for European nations, as their policies break with the "either/or" binaries of the Cold War era, which - Lavrov claimed - some nations are prone to relapse into, as he spoke at a presser in Belgrade, Friday. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic added to Lavrov's sentiments, stating Serbia wants to be a EU member state, while maintaining friendly ties with Russia. In the meeting the ministers held prior to the press, they discussed a wide range of issues including: the Ukraine conflict, Serbia's OSCE chairmanship and and bilateral relations. Earlier on Friday Lavrov, along with the Serbian Minister for Labour and Social Issues Aleksandar Vulin, laid wreaths to the Liberators of Belgrade Memorial and the Monument to Soviet Soldiers, to commemorate the 2,944 Serbian National Liberation Army soldiers and 961 Red Army soldiers - as well as the 2,000 Serbian and Soviet victims - who fought and died in the Belgrade Offensive in 1944. After the press conference, Lavrov is set to meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. In the evening, Lavrov will have a working dinner with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, which will conclude the diplomat's visit to Serbia.