Mr First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia,
Ivica,
Friends,
We are glad to see you. We value the relations that are developing between the Russian Federation and Serbia. Their direction is set by regular contacts between our presidents, Vladimir Putin and Aleksandar Vucic. We are satisfied to see how the agreements in the material sphere, trade, investment, cultural exchanges, and sports cooperation, are being implemented.
Today we will attend a football match between the Russian and Serbian national teams. The interest in this event will be enormous. The stadium will be full. I am sure the players will show their best game.
Such meetings strengthen the foundations of the international sport movement and fully comply with the principles of Olympism, which have been going through trials in recent years. This is not least due to the position of the IOC. We consider it unacceptable to politicise sport. This Western policy continues with the support of international officials. It does not look like it will end anytime soon. It reflects the course taken by the collective West, led by the United States, towards the politicisation of all international relations, including trade and economic relations. Their actions discredit the institutions (International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organisation) created after World War II to regulate global processes.
The introduction of unprecedented sanctions against everyone who defends their independence and the right to be part of the World Community in full accordance with the principle of equality enshrined in the UN Charter is a striking example of the distortion and perversion of all the principles of the world market economy, which the West itself has been actively introducing into international relations.
Of particular importance is collective work at the UN and other multilateral structures to uphold the principles underlying the international system created after the Second World War. The West is clearly not interested in fulfilling them.
We are carrying out relevant work. We will continue to intensify these efforts in order to protect the principles of democracy, justice, and equality in international relations. Most countries in the world share this point of view. I believe that it will prevail.
Today we expect to discuss in depth our bilateral affairs and cooperation on international platforms. We are interested in hearing your assessment of what is happening in the Balkans, where a serious situation has developed. We are all interested in preventing new crises.
BY: TTU/ Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
