Lavrov says Dacic visit being prepared

Lavrov said that the West prevented his visit to Belgrade in July 2022 by forcing Serbia’s neighbors to deny permission for Russian aircraft to fly over their territory. “We agreed with Ivica Dacic, my old friend, for him to come to Russia and we are discussing specific dates now,” he said. “I am waiting for Ivica Dacic’s visit when he decides the time is right,” Lavrov said.

The Russian Foreign Minister said he knows that his words could bring “another brazen demand from the West for Ivica not to come to Russia” adding that Moscow has an agreement with the Serbian Foreign Minister for that possibility.

Lavrov said that Belgrade and Moscow are in regular contact and thanked President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic for keeping contacts with Russia’s Ambassador Alexander Bocan Harchenko open. “Those contacts are very useful and we can also speak by phone.