14.03.2018.
Minister Vulin: We do not only share common past, but we share the future as well
- Not only the admirers of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky have gathered here today; we have not gathered here only because of the past that connects us no matter how glorious, great and defining it may be. We have gathered here because the Republic of Serbia and the Russian Federation have common future; because we have concrete economic and political interests, because we understand each other and because we see a common future – said the minister of defence at the ceremonial opening of the fifth International Economic Exhibition “EXPO-RUSSIA SERBIA 2018” and the fifth “Belgrade Business Forum” that are being held from 14th to 16th March in the hotel “Metropol Palace”.
Vulin pointed out that the relations of the leaders of our countries, President of the Republic of Serbia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Aleksandar Vučić and President of the Russian Federation and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, significantly encouraged the cooperation.- The relations of understanding and respect are considerably enhancing our cooperation. The Ministry of Defence of Serbia actively cooperates with the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. The Military Technical Agreement is implemented to the last agreed word and Serbia highly appreciates the support that enables our armed forces to grow stronger and more developed. The degree of future development of our armed forces, which stems from the military technical cooperation, is not something that the country of this size could afford. Because of that, I want to reiterate that we are here for the future, not because of our relations from the past. The cooperation between our countries and our peoples can never be reduced to the usual platitude about traditional ties among Slavic and Orthodox peoples. We are all that, but we are the nations of the future, the nations who are willing to evolve, to grow, preserve freedom and independence of their country. That is why this is a gathering of people who look into the future. Our ties are in the future – Minister Vulin underlined.
According to him, the Republic of Serbia is a military neutral country and it will continue behaving like that.- We are grateful to all who understand and respect our neutrality, but we know very well that our neutrality and our policy will be truly respected only if we are economically, military and politically strong. I thank everybody on the interest shown, for the hopes raised by our businessmen when they cooperate and I would like to wish successful work to all our dear guests and to wish them to feel like home – concluded Minister Vulin.
The goal of the exhibition is strengthening commercial ties and strategic partnership between Serbia and Russia, including the countries of the South East Europe. The exhibition is held with the support of the Intergovernmental Serbia-Russia Committee for Trade, Economic and Scientific and Technical Cooperation, numerous ministries of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Serbia, Trade Representation of Russia in Serbia, Embassy of Russia in Serbia, Embassy of Serbia in Russia, Trade-Industry Chamber of Russia, Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and Russian Centre for Science and Culture in Serbia “Russian House”.
